Food Insecurity in Kentucky: 2025 Report
Comprehensive analysis of hunger and food access in the Bluegrass State
Last Updated: January 2025
14.8%
Overall Food Insecurity663,400
Food Insecure Individuals19.7%
Child Food Insecurity11.2%
Senior Food InsecurityExecutive Summary
Kentucky faces significant food insecurity challenges with 14.8% of residents (663,400 individuals) lacking consistent access to adequate food.
Key Findings:
- Overall Rate: Kentucky's 14.8% food insecurity rate exceeds the national average of 11.2%, ranking 15th worst nationally.
- Child Hunger: 19.7% of children (202,100 kids) experience food insecurity, significantly above the national child rate of 14.3%.
- Senior Hunger: 11.2% of seniors age 60+ (97,800 older adults) face food insecurity.
- Regional Variation: Eastern Kentucky counties have rates exceeding 20%, while urban counties average 12-14%.
- SNAP Participation: 16.2% of Kentuckians receive SNAP benefits, serving 726,000 individuals monthly.
- Meal Gap: Annual food budget shortfall of $1.07 billion represents 311.2 million missing meals.
- Food Bank Network: Feeding Kentucky coordinates 7 member food banks serving all 120 counties.
Overall Statistics
Key Metrics
| Total Population | 4,481,200 |
|---|---|
| Food Insecure | 663,400 |
| Food Insecurity Rate | 14.8% |
| Child Food Insecurity | 19.7% |
| Senior Food Insecurity | 11.2% |
| Cost Per Meal | $3.44 |
| Annual Meal Gap | 311.2 million meals |
Demographics
| Group | Rate | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Children (0-17) | 19.7% | 202,100 |
| Working Age (18-59) | 14.2% | 363,500 |
| Seniors (60+) | 11.2% | 97,800 |
| Single Parent Families | 29.8% | - |
| Rural Areas | 16.4% | - |
| Urban Areas | 13.2% | - |
County-by-County Analysis
Highest Food Insecurity Rates
| County | Rate | Food Insecure | Child Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfe County | 24.3% | 1,640 | 31.2% |
| Owsley County | 23.8% | 1,030 | 30.7% |
| Clay County | 23.2% | 4,890 | 29.8% |
| McCreary County | 22.9% | 3,870 | 29.2% |
| Lee County | 22.4% | 1,340 | 28.9% |
Lowest Food Insecurity Rates
| County | Rate | Food Insecure | Child Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham County | 8.7% | 5,940 | 11.2% |
| Boone County | 9.4% | 12,870 | 12.8% |
| Spencer County | 10.1% | 1,990 | 13.7% |
| Scott County | 10.6% | 6,250 | 14.2% |
| Shelby County | 10.9% | 5,420 | 14.8% |
SNAP Participation
SNAP Statistics
| SNAP Participants | 726,000 |
|---|---|
| Participation Rate | 16.2% of population |
| SNAP Households | 392,000 |
| Avg Monthly Benefit/Person | $189 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $1.65 billion |
| Children on SNAP | 316,800 |
| Seniors on SNAP | 98,400 |
Program Coverage
- School Lunch Program: 523,000 students
- School Breakfast: 387,000 students
- WIC: 89,500 participants
- Summer Food Service: 215+ sites
- Senior Farmers Market: $50 vouchers
- CSFP (Commodity): 12,300 seniors
Food Assistance Resources
Feeding Kentucky Member Food Banks
God's Pantry Food Bank
Service Area: Central Kentucky, 50 counties
Distribution: 24+ million lbs annually
Contact: (859) 255-6592
Dare to Care Food Bank
Service Area: Louisville area, Kentuckiana
Distribution: 21+ million lbs annually
Contact: (502) 966-3821
Feeding America Kentucky's Heartland
Service: 42 counties in south central KY
Community Action of Southern KY
Service: South central region
MANNA Inc.
Service: Northern Kentucky
Data Sources
- Feeding America - Map the Meal Gap 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau - American Community Survey 2023
- USDA Economic Research Service - Food Security 2024
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
- Feeding Kentucky - Annual Report 2024