New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study released today shows that food insecurity reached every community in Georgia in 2024, with 1 in 6 people—including 1 in 5 children—experiencing food insecurity. The study, which analyzes county-level data, found that rural counties face the highest rates, with more than 8 out of 10 counties with the highest estimated rates of food insecurity nationally being rural. In the 29 metro Atlanta and North Georgia counties served by the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Heard County reported the highest rate at 20.9%, followed by Floyd and Polk counties.
The study also revealed that approximately 64% of people experiencing food insecurity in Georgia had incomes too high to qualify for federal nutrition assistance such as SNAP. Nationally, half of all food-insecure individuals may not qualify for SNAP due to income limits. In the Atlanta Community Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of those facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP, up from 61% in 2023. Among children, 40% may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals, up from 32% in 2023. "More of our neighbors are having to make difficult choices to make ends meet and are struggling to put food on their tables," said Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. "The Map the Meal Gap numbers help us understand the scale of this crisis as we work with lawmakers, donors, suppliers and our partners to ensure that Georgia residents have access to healthy, nutritious food."
In the Atlanta Community Food Bank's 29-county service area, 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. Senior food insecurity stands at 1 in 9. Disparities persist by race and ethnicity: in Georgia, 11% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 19% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity. The study also highlights meal cost variations; in Fulton County, the average cost per meal is $4.68, compared to a national range of $2.56 to $6.28. Individuals who were food secure reported spending an average of $3.70 per meal.
Although the USDA has stopped collecting food security data, Feeding America will continue to estimate local food insecurity and meal costs. The organization is collaborating with its network of food banks, pantries, and partners to explore alternative data sources for future estimates. 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 are available on the Map the Meal Gap website.
