Food Insecurity in Idaho

156,640 Idahoans experienced food insecurity in 2021, which equates to 8.2% of the population.

40,410 children in Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021, which equates to 8.6% of Idaho’s children.

The county that is estimated to have the highest food insecurity rate for children in Idaho in 2021 was Lewis County with 18.4 percent. That is followed by Shoshone County (17.9%), Custer County (16.6%), and Butte County (16.4%)


Access by all members at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” At a minimum, it includes “the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods; and assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies.
— Definition of Food Security by the USDA

Food insecurity by region

National

33,844,000 people in the United States experienced food insecurity. That is 10.4% of the population.

9,262,000 children in the United States experienced food insecurity. That is 12.8% of children in the United States.

North & North Central Idaho

34,790 people in North & North Central Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 11.2% of the population in the region.

8,700 children in North & North Central Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 13.5% of children in the region.

Southwest Idaho

82,330 people in Southwest Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 9.4% of the population in the region.

22,660 children in Southwest Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2020. This is 11.4% of children in the region.

Eastern Idaho

34,580 people in Eastern Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 8.4% of the population in the region.

10,340 children in Eastern Idaho experienced food insecurity in 2021. This is 9.5% of the children in the region.