Food insecurity in the United States increased in 2023, impacting 18 million households, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). The report, titled Household Food Security in the United States in 2023, reveals that 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity at some point during the year, up from 12.8% in 2022.
The report highlights a worrying trend: the prevalence of food insecurity has been steadily rising since 2020. In 2021, 10.2% of households faced food insecurity, a figure that grew to 12.8% in 2022 and now 13.5% in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the 10.5% reported in 2020.
Food insecurity, as defined by the USDA, occurs when a household has difficulty providing enough food for all its members due to a lack of resources. This can lead to disruptions in normal eating patterns and reduced food intake. In the more severe category of very low food security, 5.1% of households—about 6.8 million—experienced such hardships in 2023. While this percentage remains unchanged from 2022, it represents an increase from the 3.8% recorded in 2021.
Households with children were particularly affected, with 8.9% (3.2 million households) reporting food insecurity in 2023. This rate is statistically similar to the 8.8% reported in 2022 but marks an increase from the 6.2% recorded in 2021. In some cases, even children faced very low food security, with 1.0% of households with children (374,000 households) reporting that children went hungry, skipped meals, or did not eat for a whole day due to a lack of money for food.
The USDA’s food and nutrition assistance programs, which aim to increase food security by providing low-income households with access to nutritious food, are more critical than ever. The report underscores the growing need for these programs as more American families struggle to put food on the table.
The increase in food insecurity reflects the complex interplay of household circumstances, economic factors, and local and federal policies. While the report does not analyze the specific causes behind the rise, it highlights the urgent need for continued support and intervention to address this growing issue.
