Food insecurity means not having reliable access to enough food or to healthy, nutritious food. It does not always mean going hungry. Some people may have enough food but rely on cheaper, less healthy options because fresh foods are too expensive or hard to find. These lower-cost foods are often high in sugar, fat, and salt, which can increase the risk of health problems. Access to healthy food plays an important role in overall health and well-being.
Food insecurity may be influenced by several factors such as income, employment, transportation options, and disability status. It can be short term or long term and can affect both adults and children. Adults who are food insecure face higher risks of obesity and chronic diseases. Research shows that adults who experience food insecurity are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Children in food-insecure households are more likely to have health and developmental problems and may struggle with mental health.
- From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households were 52% more likely to experience food insecurity than households nationwide.
- From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households were 23% more likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) than households nationwide.
- From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households with children under 18 years were 34% more likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.
Additional Resources
MedlinePlus
- Nutrition (in Spanish)
- Child Nutrition (in Spanish)
Related Data
Further Reading
Occurrence
Adults
| Prevalence of all household food insecurity, percentage, 2016–2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 16.9 | 11.1 | 1.52 |
| Prevalence of households with very low food security, percentage, 2016–2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 5.3 | 4.3 | 1.23 |
| Prevalence of food insecurity among households with annual income below 130 percent of the poverty line, percentage, 2016–2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 32.6 | 33.4 | 0.98 |
| Adults who lived in families experiencing food insecurity in the past 30 days, percentage, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 8.0 | 5.9 | 1.36 |
| Prevalence of all household food insecurity by Hispanic origin category, percentage, 2016–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic Population | Percentage | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic Population / Total) |
| All | 16.9 | 11.1 | 1.52 |
| Central American | 19.1 | 11.1 | 1.72 |
| Cuban | 11.4 | 11.1 | 1.03 |
| Dominican | 21.0 | 11.1 | 1.89 |
| Mexican | 17.2 | 11.1 | 1.55 |
| Puerto Rican | 19.0 | 11.1 | 1.71 |
| Salvadoran | 18.7 | 11.1 | 1.68 |
| South American | 12.1 | 11.1 | 1.09 |
| Other Spanish | 16.0 | 11.1 | 1.44 |
Children and Adolescents
| Prevalence of household food insecurity among households with children under 18 years, percentage, 2016–2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | Total Population | Ratio (Hispanic / Total) |
| 19.5 | 14.5 | 1.34 |
Date Last Reviewed: March 2026