Map the Meal Gap Kiddo Hunger
in IDaho
0
Food Insecure People in Idaho *Projected
11.3%
Food Insecurity Rate *Projected
0
Food Insecure Children in Idaho *Projected
12.8%
Child Food Insecurity Rate *Projected

Map the Meal Gap in Idaho

2019 Idaho Map
This links to an interactive map at Feeding America

Feeding America Links

Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Page

MAP THE MEAL GAP 2021 – FOOD INSECURITY IN IDAHO:

Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, released its annual Map the Meal Gap Report in May 2021. The report includes analysis of food insecurity in Idaho in 2019, right before the pandemic, along with projections on how the pandemic and other economic changes may impact people facing hunger locally and across the country.

This year’s Map the Meal Gap has two sets of data – one is a baseline using 2019 data and the other is estimated projections of the impact of COVID-19 on food insecurity in 2021.

  • Feeding America is projecting that more than 202,390 Idahoans may experience food insecurity in 2021 due to the pandemic; this equates to 1 in 9 individuals. Even more disconcerting is the 57,620 kids or 1 in 8 of Idaho’s children who could be living with hunger.
  • More than 53% of people in Idaho who are food insecure may not qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to their income level. This troubling statistic underscores the importance of food banks to fill the gap for people who don’t qualify.
  • Across the United States, counties with the highest rates of food insecurity are disproportionately rural. Rural communities make up 63% of counties in the United States and 87% of counties with the highest rates of overall food insecurity
  • 75% of Idaho’s 44 counties are considered rural.

National – MMG 2021 (*using 2019 data)

  • USDA estimates – 35 million people were food insecure which equates to 1 in 9 individuals.
  • USDA estimates – more than 10 million children were food insecure which equates to 1 in 7 children.

National – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections (using 2021 estimates)

  • Up to 42 million people may experience food insecurity in 2021 which equates to 1 in 8 individuals.
  • Up to 13 million children may experience food insecurity in 2021 which equates to 1 in 6 children.

*Please Note: Feeding America used 6.7% as the projected 2021 unemployment rate for Idaho to determine the below 2021 Pandemic Projections for Idaho. Unemployment in Idaho is currently around 3 percent.

*Please Note: Feeding America also used 2020 unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and poverty rates for these 2021 projections.

Idaho – MMG 2021 (*using 2019 data)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 179,580 individuals; 10% overall, which equates to 1 in 10 individuals.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 189,970 people; 10.8%; 1 in 9 individuals
  • Total Food Insecure Children: 49,220; food insecurity for children is 11% which equates to 1 in 9 children.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 56,120 children; 12.6%; 1 in 8 children.

Idaho – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections (using 2021 estimate)

  • More than 202,390 Idahoans may experience food insecurity in 2021; 11.3% of Idahoans which equates to 1 in 9 individuals.
  • This is lower than estimates from the height of the pandemic, which was 1 in 7 Idahoans
  • More than 57,620 children may experience food insecurity in 2021; 12.8% of Idaho children which equates to 1 in 8 children.

Eastern Idaho – MMG 2021 (*using 2019 data in 16 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 39,930; 10.1% of population in region – equates to 1 in 10 individuals.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 40,650 people, 10.45% of population in region; 1 in 10 individuals.
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 12,730; 12.1% of population in region – equates to 1 in 8 children.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 13,670 kids, 12.63% of population in region; 1 in 8 children.

Eastern Idaho – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections (2021 estimate for 16 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 44,540 may experience food insecurity; 11.2% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 9 individuals.
  • This is lower than estimates from the height of the pandemic, which was 1 in 8
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 14,710 may experience food insecurity, 13.76% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 7 children.
  • This is lower than estimates from the height of the pandemic, which was 1 in 6

North Central Idaho – MMG 2021 (*using 2019 data in 10 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 40,780; 13.6% of population in region – equates to 1 in 7 individuals.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 40,490 people; 13.46% of population in region; 1 in 7 individuals.
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 10,830; 17.3% of population in region – equates to 1 in 6 children.
  • In MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 11,100 Kids; 17.29% of population in region; 1 in 6 children.

North Central Idaho – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections (2021 estimate in 10 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 46,150 may experience food insecurity; 14.93% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 7 individuals.
  • This is lower than estimates from the height of the pandemic, which was 1 in 6
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 12,690 may experience food insecurity; 19.28% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 5 children.

Southwest Idaho – MMG 2021 (*using 2019 data in 18 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 95,920; 10.8% of population in region – equates to 1 in 9 individuals.
  • MMG 2020 (*using 2018 data) it was 98,050 people; 11.5% of population in region; 1 in 9 individuals.
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 27,350; 13.3% of population in region – equates to 1 in 8 children.
  • MMG 2020(*using 2018 data) it was 28,690 Kids; 14.49% of population in region; 1 in 7 children.

Southwest Idaho – MMG 2020 Pandemic Projections (2021 estimate in 18 counties)

  • Total Food Insecure Overall: 110,890 may experience food insecurity; 12.2% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 8 individuals.
  • This is lower than estimates from the height of the pandemic, which was 1 in 7
  • Total Food Insecure Kids: 33,420 may experience food insecurity; 15.5% of the population in the region. This equates to 1 in 7 children.

Main Messaging

  • Prior to COVID-19, Idaho had been seeing continued improvements in reducing food insecurity. This improvement is shown in the Map the Meal Gap baseline projections. However, the pandemic had an immediate effect and people are continuing to work through recovery.
  • The Map the Meal Gap projections related to the pandemic represent the most timely and up-to-date data on food insecurity available.
  • Food insecurity varies greatly across the state with Shoshone County having the highest overall rate at 19.6 percent and Clark and Teton at just 7.3 percent.
  • The county that is estimated to have the highest overall food insecurity rate in Idaho in 2021 is Shoshone with 19.6 percent. That is followed by Lewis County with 17.1 percent and Custer County with 16.5 percent.
  • These three counties were in the top three counties prior to the pandemic as well; Shoshone County’s food insecurity rate was 17.7 percent, Lewis County’s food insecurity rate was 16.2 percent, and Custer County’s was at 15.5 percent.
  • The counties that are estimated to have the lowest food insecurity rate in Idaho in 2021 are Clark and Teton, with each of them at 7.3 percent. That is followed by Jefferson County with a food insecurity rate of 7.5 percent.
  • Prior to the pandemic, Teton County had the lowest food insecurity rate in Idaho at 5 percent. Jefferson County had a 6.6 percent food insecurity rate and Clark County was at 6.9 percent.
  • The county that is estimated to have the highest food insecurity rate for children in Idaho in 2021 is Shoshone County with 28.2 percent. That is followed by 23.1 percent in Custer and 22 percent in Benewah.
  • Prior to the pandemic, Shoshone County had the highest child food insecurity rate at 25.1 percent. That was followed by Custer with 21.5 percent and Benewah with 20.7 percent.
  • The county that is estimated to have the lowest child food insecurity rate in Idaho in 2021 is Teton County with 7.2 percent. That is followed by Jefferson at 8.9 percent and Ada at 11.3 percent.
  • Prior to the pandemic, Teton County also had the lowest child food insecurity rate in Idaho at 3.3 percent. That was followed by Jefferson at 7.7 percent and Ada at 8.7 percent.