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 an 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. Map the Meal Gap uses the most recent data from USDA, the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and food price data and analysis provided by NielsenIQ, a global measurement and data analytics company.

  • 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 91% of counties with the highest rates of overall food insecurity
  • 75% of Idaho’s 44 counties are considered rural.

National – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections

  • 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.

Idaho – MMG 2021 Pandemic Projections

  • More than 202,390 Idahoans may experience food insecurity in 2021; 11.3% of Idahoans which equates to 1 in 9 individuals.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

Overall

  • 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.
  • 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.