UNITED STATES • THE NATIONAL PICTURE
Food that could feed people ends up in landfills.
At the same time, millions of Americans live in food-insecure households.
Surplus Food Waste
23 milliontons
of surplus food were sent to U.S. landfills in 2024.
ReFED estimate • Total includes edible food and inedible scraps.
AT THE SAME TIME
Food Insecurity
47.9 million
people lived in food-insecure households in 2024.
USDA • 18.3 million households, or 13.7% of U.S. households.
A national challenge across communities and generations
Share of households experiencing food insecurity in 2024.
Where people live
Urban, suburban and rural households
- Urban16.0%
- Rural15.9%
- Suburban11.9%
Household age profile
Household rates, not individual age-group rates
- With children under 1818.4%
- With an adult age 65 or older9.9%
- Adult age 65 or older living alone11.3%
Across U.S. regions
The four Census geographic regions
- Northeast12.2%
- Midwest13.3%
- South15.0%
- West12.9%
Urban = principal cities in metropolitan areas. Suburban = metropolitan areas outside principal cities. Rural = nonmetropolitan areas.
Household categories can overlap. Food insecurity in a household with children does not necessarily mean the children themselves experienced it.