New data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study reveals that food insecurity touches every community in Georgia, with rural areas facing the highest rates. The study, released July 28, 2026, estimates that in 2024, 1 in 6 people in Georgia, including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity. Nationwide, more than 8 out of 10 counties with the highest estimated rates of food insecurity are rural, including Heard, Floyd, and Polk counties in the Atlanta Community Food Bank's 29-county service area.
The study also found that approximately 64% of people experiencing food insecurity in Georgia had incomes too high to qualify for federal nutrition assistance, such as SNAP. This leaves them without a vital bridge to maintain stability. '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 service area, over 900,000 people, including over 293,000 children, experienced food insecurity in 2024. Food insecurity rates range from a low of 10.2% in Henry County to a high of 20.9% in Heard County. Among children, 1 in 5 in Georgia are food insecure, and among seniors, that rate is 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.
Food insecurity is closely tied to income and food costs. Nationally, half of all people experiencing food insecurity may not qualify for SNAP due to income limits. In the Food Bank's service area, more than 68% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP (up from 61% in 2023), and 40% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The average cost per meal for food-secure individuals was $3.70 nationally, but in Fulton County, it was $4.68.
The study, supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ, uses publicly available data from the USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics. 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. The Atlanta Community Food Bank continues to work with partners to address hunger; more information is available at acfb.org.
