Defined as a lack of access to enough food for a healthy and active life, food insecurity is a pervasive issue that impacts the health and well-being of those who face it. Simply put, it’s when people are not able to afford the food they need. Hunger is a result of being food insecure. Food insecurity exists in every county in the United States.
Food insecurity is a complex issue that stems from poverty and systemic racism. High rates of hunger are directly linked to high rates of poverty. Hunger is an issue of resources and access, worsened by the many existing obstacles people face when trying to establish economic security, like:
Millions of people in America are just one job loss, missed paycheck, or medical emergency away from becoming food insecure.
Feeding America projects that over 480,000 people (8.7%) in Philabundance’s service area experienced food insecurity in 2021,a third of whom were children.
Bucks County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 45,120
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 7.20%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 53,660
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 8.60%
Philadelphia County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 226,890
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 14.40%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 268,490
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 17%
Chester County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 32,740
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 6.30%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 38,230
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 7.40%
Montgomery County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 56,820
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 6.90%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 68,050
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 8.30%
Delaware County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 48,040
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 8.50%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 57,740
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 10.20%
Burlington County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 29,530
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 6.60%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 43,310
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 9.70%
Camden County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 48,060
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 9.50%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 67,080
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 13.20%
Gloucester County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 21,930
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 7.50%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 31,530
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 10.80%
Salem County
Number of Food Insecure 2019: 6,740
Food Insecurity Rate 2019: 10.70%
Number of Projected Food Insecure 2021: 8,790
Projected Food Insecurity Rate 2021: 14%
For more information on food insecurity, visit Feeding America.
Find food insecurity rates in your community using Map the Meal Gap.
Learn about programs and policies that address food insecurity, and how you can take action to end hunger.