What percentage of US adults experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days?
Food insecurity means a household often or sometimes does not have enough food to last 30 days and lacks money to buy more. Data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey shows that 4.4% of working adults in the United States experienced this condition in the past 30 days 4.
What the research says
A 2024 report using 2021 survey data found that 4.4% of working adults ages 18-64 lived in families facing food insecurity 4. This percentage represents adults who reported not having enough food to last a month and having no money to buy more 4.
Earlier reports from 2018 described food insecurity among US families by poverty status but did not provide a single national percentage for all adults in that year 1. Other studies focus on specific groups, such as low-income veterans, where 22.5% reported food insecurity in the previous month, which is higher than the general working adult rate 6.
Research also links food insecurity to diet quality. A study using data from 2007-2016 found that more severe food insecurity was associated with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods 5. This suggests that the lack of money for food often leads to reliance on cheaper, less healthy options.
What to ask your doctor
- How does my work schedule affect my family's ability to afford enough food?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Primary Care & Family Medicine and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.