New Data Reveals Widespread Food Insecurity Across Georgia, Rural Counties Hit Hardest

New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study reveals that food insecurity reached every county in Georgia in 2024, with rural communities facing the highest rates. The study found 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 29-county service area of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. In Georgia, 1 in 6 people, including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2024.

The study also highlighted that approximately 64% of people experiencing food insecurity in Georgia had incomes too high to qualify for federal nutrition assistance, such as SNAP. In the Atlanta Community Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP, up from 61% in 2023. Additionally, 40% of children facing hunger in the area may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, up from 32% in 2023.

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 estimates that over 900,000 people in the Food Bank's 29-county service area, including over 293,000 children, experienced food insecurity in 2024.

Food insecurity varies by geography and demographics. Nationwide, 84% of counties with the highest food insecurity are in the South. In Georgia, counties such as Haralson, Hall, Spalding, and Union see high levels of food insecurity. Among children in the Food Bank's service area, the rate rose to 19.2% from 16.5% in 2023. Disparities exist 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 examined food spending and prices. Individuals who were food secure reported spending an average of $3.70 per meal in 2024, but meal costs vary significantly by county. 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. Additional key takeaways and an interactive map detailing food insecurity by geography, income, race, and ethnicity can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website.

The study uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics, along with food price data from NIQ. Although USDA has stopped collecting food security data, Feeding America will continue to estimate local food insecurity and is exploring alternative data sources for future years. To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap.