The latest U.S. federal data indicate that:
- In 2004, 13.5 million households (or 11.9% of all U.S. households) were food insecure. Over 38 million people (13.2% of all Americans) lived in these households.
- During the 12 months preceding the 2004 survey, 4.4 million households experienced hunger. Over 10.7 million adults and children lived in these households.
- In 2004, 13.9 million children under age 18 lived in food-insecure households (19.0% of all children).
- Food insecurity and hunger are concentrated in low-income households. In 2004, households with incomes below 130% poverty line had a food insecurity prevalence more than 3 times the national level. More than two-thirds of households reporting hunger had incomes under 185% of the poverty line.
- Female-headed households showed disproportionately high levels of food insecurity and hunger, with 33% reporting food insecurity and 1 in 11 experiencing hunger.
- Black and Hispanic households had food insecurity prevalences that were at least 2.5 times those of White (non-Hispanic) households.
From: http://www.centeronhunger.org/hunger/facts.html (Source: Nord, M., Andrews, M., Carlson, S. (October 2005) Household Food Security in the United States, 2004. Washington, D.C.: Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.)