Food insecurity continues to affect every corner of Indiana, underscoring the ongoing need for community partnerships and policies that connect people with nutritious food.
Feeding America’s newly released Map the Meal Gap 2026 study estimates 1,097,150 Hoosiers experienced food insecurity in 2024, representing 15.8% of Indiana’s population.
The annual study provides county and congressional district-level estimates of food insecurity while also examining food costs, household spending and access to nutrition assistance program in 2024.
The report estimates Indiana families facing food insecurity would need an additional $691 million annually to meet their food needs. In 2024, the average cost of a meal in Indiana was $3.32.
While many households experiencing food insecurity qualify for federal nutrition assistance, the report highlights a significant coverage gap.
In Indiana, 61% of food-insecure individuals have incomes above the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility threshold, while 39% fall below 130% of the federal poverty level, making them more likely to qualify for assistance. That means many working families continue to struggle to afford groceries despite earning too much to receive benefits.
Nationally, Feeding America’s research estimates that 47.9 million people experienced food insecurity at some point during 2024, including individuals living in every county and congressional district across the United States.
The study also found:
- Food insecurity affects every community in the country.
- Children experience food insecurity at higher rates than the overall population, reaching an estimated 45% in some communities.
- Rural communities account for 62% of all U.S. counties but represent 86% of counties with the highest estimated food insecurity rates.
- Nearly half of people experiencing food insecurity have household incomes that are too high to qualify for SNAP benefits.
The report comes as food prices remain elevated and some federal supports have declined, increasing pressure on households already struggling to make ends meet.
Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has discontinued collecting food security data through its Household Food Security in the United States report, Feeding America said it will continue producing local food insecurity estimates by leveraging additional data sources and research methods to ensure communities have access to reliable local data.
Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap estimates for every county and congressional district in the United States, helping food banks, community organizations, policymakers and advocates better understand local need and target resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Across Indiana, the findings reinforce the importance of partnerships between food banks, community organizations, volunteers and supporters working to ensure every neighbor has reliable access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.
See more findings from Map the Meal Gap here.
