Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Wyoming
Every county in the United States is home to people experiencing food insecurity, defined by the nonprofit Feeding America as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
The USDA estimates that 89.5% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2019—that's 116.0 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on households already experiencing food hardship, with Feeding America estimating that 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, may experience food insecurity in 2021. This is a slight improvement from 2020 numbers but still represents an enormous burden for millions of children and adults.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Wyoming with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.
#23. Teton County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (2,100 total)
--- 17.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.2% (320 total)
--- 50.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,655,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.61
#22. Crook County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (770 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.1% (190 total)
--- 30.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $420,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#21. Lincoln County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (2,020 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (710 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,035,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00
#20. Sheridan County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (3,230 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.3% (790 total)
--- 15.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,861,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#19. Laramie County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (11,060 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (3,280 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,113,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#18. Sweetwater County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (4,940 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.7% (1,700 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,839,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#17. Campbell County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (5,360 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.9% (1,950 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,034,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#16. Washakie County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (930 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (330 total)
--- 12.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $515,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#15. Converse County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (1,610 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (500 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $886,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#14. Park County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (3,380 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (890 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,915,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#13. Carbon County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (1,810 total)
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (530 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,113,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#12. Sublette County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (1,190 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (410 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $735,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.61
#11. Weston County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (860 total)
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (250 total)
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $471,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#10. Natrona County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (9,800 total)
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2,950 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,263,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#9. Goshen County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (1,640 total)
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (450 total)
--- 15.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $896,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#8. Uinta County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (2,590 total)
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (960 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,357,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#7. Albany County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (4,920 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.5% (770 total)
--- 14.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,864,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#6. Big Horn County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (1,550 total)
--- 19.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.3% (520 total)
--- 18.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $886,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#5. Johnson County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (1,110 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (300 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $617,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#4. Platte County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,170 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (310 total)
--- 36.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $649,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#3. Fremont County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (5,430 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (1,800 total)
--- 22.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,117,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#2. Hot Springs County
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (660 total)
--- 31.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (170 total)
--- 30.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $376,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#1. Niobrara County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (380 total)
--- 43.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.6% (100 total)
--- 41.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $205,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
