New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study reveals that food insecurity is pervasive across Georgia, with rural communities bearing the brunt. In 2024, 1 in 6 Georgians—including 1 in 5 children—experienced food insecurity, according to the study. The findings highlight that more than 8 out of 10 counties with the highest estimated rates of food insecurity nationally are rural, including Heard, Floyd, and Polk counties in the Atlanta Community Food Bank's 29-county service area.
Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, emphasized the scale of the crisis: "More of our neighbors are having to make difficult choices to make ends meet and are struggling to put food on their tables. In our service area, nearly 14% of our neighbors are food insecure." The study also found that approximately 64% of people experiencing food insecurity in Georgia had incomes too high to qualify for federal nutrition assistance, leaving them without a vital safety net. In the Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of those facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP, up from 61% in 2023.
The study underscores the impact of high food prices and declining federal supports. Nationally, half of all people experiencing food insecurity may not qualify for SNAP due to income limits. In the Food Bank's 29 counties, over 900,000 people, including over 293,000 children, experienced food insecurity in 2024. The child food insecurity rate rose to 19.2% from 16.5% in 2023. Among seniors, 1 in 9 face food insecurity in Georgia.
Food insecurity varies by geography and demographics. In the Food Bank's service area, rates range from a low of 10.2% in Henry County to a high of 20.9% in Heard County. Nationwide, 84% of counties with the highest food insecurity are in the South. Disparities persist by race and ethnicity: in Georgia, 11% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 19% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2024.
The study also examines meal costs. Food-secure individuals reported spending an average of $3.70 per meal nationally, but costs vary significantly by county, from $2.56 to $6.28. In Fulton County, the average cost per meal is $4.68. The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ.
Although USDA has stopped collecting food security data, Feeding America will continue to estimate local food insecurity and meal costs. The organization is collaborating with partners to explore alternative data sources for future estimates. The full report and an interactive map detailing food insecurity by geography, income, race, and ethnicity are available on the Map the Meal Gap website. For more information about the Atlanta Community Food Bank and how to help, visit acfb.org.
