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

Since 1995, when consistent food security monitoring began in the United States, differences have been identified in the prevalence of food insecurity across race and ethnicity. Households with Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic reference persons have had a higher prevalence of food insecurity than households with White, non-Hispanic, or other, non-Hispanic reference persons. Less is known about the food security status of race and ethnic groups that comprise a smaller share of the population—including American Indian and Alaskan Native, Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and multiracial groups, including individuals identifying as American Indian and White, individuals identifying as Black and White, and other multiracial combinations. This report combines 6 years of data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (2016–21) to examine household food security among these race and ethnic groups, including by household and economic characteristics and across Hispanic and Asian origin groups. The prevalence of food insecurity ranges from a low of 5.4 percent for Asian households to a high of 23.3 percent for American Indian and Alaska Native households. Meaningful differences in food insecurity exist across and within racial, ethnic, and origin groups.