Household Food Insecurity Across Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 2016–21

by Laura J. Hales and Alisha Coleman-Jensen

Some U.S. households experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning the households’ ability to acquire adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors the extent and severity of food insecurity in U.S. households. This report is an extension of information provided annually by USDA, Economic Research Service on food insecurity across four racial and ethnic groups: White, non-Hispanic; Black, non-Hispanic; Hispanic; and other, non-Hispanic. This study includes American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and multiracial groups—including individuals identifying as both American Indian and White, individuals identifying as both Black and White, and other multiracial combinations.

Keywords: Food insecurity, food security, race, ethnicity, racial disparities, poverty, food hardship, Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Report summary