Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Alabama
Published 8:59 pm Tuesday, September 13, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Alabama
Food insecurity is a widespread problem in the United States, with people experiencing food insecurity in every single county in the nation. The nonprofit Feeding America describes food insecurity as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.”
Food insecurity hits children particularly hard. The USDA estimates that more than 5.5 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2021. Not having consistent access to enough food can affect cognitive abilities, overall health, moods, and attention spans—not to mention the psychological effects of living with scarcity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Alabama with the highest rate of food insecure children using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of children with food insecurity as of 2020. Alabama has a child food insecurity rate of 19.8%, which ranks #4 highest among all states.
States with the highest rate of food insecure children
#1. Louisiana: 21.5%
#2. New Mexico: 20.5%
#3. Mississippi: 20.4%
#4. Alabama: 19.8%
#5. Arkansas: 19.7%
States with the lowest rate of food insecure children
#1. North Dakota: 8.1%
#2. Massachusetts: 8.8%
#3. New Jersey: 9.0%
#4. Minnesota: 9.3%
#5. New Hampshire: 9.5%
Read on to see where food insecurity is most prevalent in Alabama.
Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Jackson County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.0% (1,950 total)
— 1.9% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (8,710 total)
— 5.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,276,000
— Cost per meal: $3.05
Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Autauga County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (2,380 total)
— 2.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (8,070 total)
— 2.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,184,000
— Cost per meal: $3.22
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#48. Winston County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (880 total)
— 2.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (4,020 total)
— 5.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,939,000
— Cost per meal: $3.00
Myself – Nathon Morris // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Lamar County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (560 total)
— 2.3% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (2,380 total)
— 5.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,157,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Franklin County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.6% (1,470 total)
— 2.5% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (4,690 total)
— 3.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,134,000
— Cost per meal: $2.83
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Coffee County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (2,320 total)
— 2.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (7,620 total)
— 2.8% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,394,000
— Cost per meal: $3.58
Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Covington County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (1,520 total)
— 2.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (6,080 total)
— 4.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,988,000
— Cost per meal: $3.05
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#43. Lawrence County
– Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (1,350 total)
— 2.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (5,380 total)
— 4.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,669,000
— Cost per meal: $3.08
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Henry County
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (690 total)
— 3.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (2,340 total)
— 1.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,301,000
— Cost per meal: $3.45
Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Marion County
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (1,200 total)
— 3.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.7% (5,290 total)
— 5.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,572,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
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#40. Walker County
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (2,760 total)
— 3.4% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (11,040 total)
— 5.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $5,394,000
— Cost per meal: $3.03
Dailynetworks // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Colbert County
– Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (2,260 total)
— 3.5% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (8,740 total)
— 4.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,423,000
— Cost per meal: $3.14
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Crenshaw County
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (620 total)
— 4.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2,110 total)
— 3.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,218,000
— Cost per meal: $3.58
Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Randolph County
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (970 total)
— 4.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (3,430 total)
— 3.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,632,000
— Cost per meal: $2.96
Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Washington County
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (700 total)
— 4.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (2,460 total)
— 3.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,196,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock
#35. Tuscaloosa County
– Child food insecurity rate: 20.5% (8,990 total)
— 4.4% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (29,840 total)
— 2.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $17,311,000
— Cost per meal: $3.60
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#34. Fayette County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.5% (750 total)
— 5.4% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.8% (2,930 total)
— 6.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,424,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
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#33. Bibb County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.6% (990 total)
— 5.5% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,680 total)
— 4.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,831,000
— Cost per meal: $3.09
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Houston County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.7% (5,280 total)
— 5.6% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (16,130 total)
— 3.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $8,883,000
— Cost per meal: $3.42
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Calhoun County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.8% (5,400 total)
— 5.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (18,430 total)
— 4.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $9,288,000
— Cost per meal: $3.13
Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Geneva County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.8% (1,260 total)
— 5.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (4,850 total)
— 6.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,421,000
— Cost per meal: $3.10
Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Etowah County
– Child food insecurity rate: 21.9% (4,840 total)
— 5.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (16,790 total)
— 4.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $8,727,000
— Cost per meal: $3.23
M Floyd // Flickr
#28. Jefferson County
– Child food insecurity rate: 22.2% (33,320 total)
— 6.1% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (93,140 total)
— 2.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $52,481,000
— Cost per meal: $3.50
Kreeder13 // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Pike County
– Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (1,460 total)
— 7.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (5,040 total)
— 3.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,881,000
— Cost per meal: $3.55
Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Coosa County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.0% (420 total)
— 7.9% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,500 total)
— 2.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $805,000
— Cost per meal: $3.33
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Dale County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.1% (2,730 total)
— 8.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (8,440 total)
— 5.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,278,000
— Cost per meal: $3.15
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Talladega County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.1% (4,100 total)
— 8.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (13,220 total)
— 4.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $6,717,000
— Cost per meal: $3.16
Altairisfar // Wikicommons
#23. Mobile County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.6% (23,890 total)
— 8.5% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (65,050 total)
— 3.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $34,976,000
— Cost per meal: $3.34
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Chambers County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.8% (1,720 total)
— 8.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (5,040 total)
— 3.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,532,000
— Cost per meal: $3.12
Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Tallapoosa County
– Child food insecurity rate: 24.9% (2,090 total)
— 8.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (6,420 total)
— 4.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,444,000
— Cost per meal: $3.33
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#20. Escambia County
– Child food insecurity rate: 26.2% (2,160 total)
— 10.1% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (6,680 total)
— 6.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $3,323,000
— Cost per meal: $3.09
Rivers Langley SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Russell County
– Child food insecurity rate: 26.3% (3,680 total)
— 10.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (9,730 total)
— 5.0% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,988,000
— Cost per meal: $3.18
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Monroe County
– Child food insecurity rate: 27.0% (1,230 total)
— 10.9% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 18.3% (3,840 total)
— 6.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,926,000
— Cost per meal: $3.12
RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Choctaw County
– Child food insecurity rate: 27.6% (700 total)
— 11.5% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (2,160 total)
— 5.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,070,000
— Cost per meal: $3.08
Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Butler County
– Child food insecurity rate: 28.2% (1,240 total)
— 12.1% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (3,210 total)
— 4.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,563,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
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#15. Marengo County
– Child food insecurity rate: 28.9% (1,290 total)
— 12.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,250 total)
— 5.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,701,000
— Cost per meal: $3.25
Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Clarke County
– Child food insecurity rate: 29.0% (1,500 total)
— 12.9% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 19.1% (4,560 total)
— 7.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,217,000
— Cost per meal: $3.02
Chris Pruitt // wikicommons
#13. Montgomery County
– Child food insecurity rate: 29.0% (15,460 total)
— 12.9% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (35,470 total)
— 3.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $19,408,000
— Cost per meal: $3.40
Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Conecuh County
– Child food insecurity rate: 29.9% (760 total)
— 13.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,950 total)
— 4.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $973,000
— Cost per meal: $3.10
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#11. Pickens County
– Child food insecurity rate: 30.8% (1,220 total)
— 14.7% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 18.5% (3,720 total)
— 6.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,074,000
— Cost per meal: $3.46
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#10. Bullock County
– Child food insecurity rate: 31.1% (710 total)
— 15.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (1,620 total)
— 4.2% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $926,000
— Cost per meal: $3.55
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Hale County
– Child food insecurity rate: 33.1% (1,130 total)
— 17.0% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (2,840 total)
— 7.4% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,617,000
— Cost per meal: $3.54
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Barbour County
– Child food insecurity rate: 33.4% (1,740 total)
— 17.3% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 19.5% (4,870 total)
— 7.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $2,505,000
— Cost per meal: $3.19
Mccallk69 // Shutterstock
#7. Macon County
– Child food insecurity rate: 36.2% (1,150 total)
— 20.1% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,030 total)
— 4.6% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,765,000
— Cost per meal: $3.62
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#6. Sumter County
– Child food insecurity rate: 36.7% (890 total)
— 20.6% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 18.7% (2,360 total)
— 6.9% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,193,000
— Cost per meal: $3.14
DXR // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Dallas County
– Child food insecurity rate: 39.5% (3,640 total)
— 23.4% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 20.3% (7,760 total)
— 8.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $4,043,000
— Cost per meal: $3.24
Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Lowndes County
– Child food insecurity rate: 40.4% (900 total)
— 24.3% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 20.1% (2,000 total)
— 8.3% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,110,000
— Cost per meal: $3.45
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#3. Greene County
– Child food insecurity rate: 42.3% (750 total)
— 26.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 22.3% (1,840 total)
— 10.5% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,016,000
— Cost per meal: $3.43
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#2. Wilcox County
– Child food insecurity rate: 42.3% (1,060 total)
— 26.2% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 21.5% (2,270 total)
— 9.7% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,140,000
— Cost per meal: $3.12
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#1. Perry County
– Child food insecurity rate: 44.9% (870 total)
— 28.8% higher than national average
– Food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,090 total)
— 11.1% higher than national average
– Annual food budget shortfall: $1,104,000
— Cost per meal: $3.28
