New data released Tuesday by hunger-fighting coalition Feeding America shows Texas is the nation’s most food-insecure state, and that the percentage of hungry people in San Antonio is higher than the state average.
Beyond that, the report also shows the problem is getting worse statewide.
Nearly 6.1 million people face hunger in Texas, according to Feeding America’s latest Map the Meal Gap study. That’s 19.4% of the state’s population — or one in five Texans.
“While we continue to grow our work to get nutritious meals to families, the need to increase food access for our neighbors has become even more urgent,” Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, said in a statement. “Food insecurity affects our neighbors across every demographic and geography, especially vulnerable groups like children and seniors.”
The Feeding America report reflects 2024 data drawn from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is the third year that Texas has beaten California for being the most food-insecure U.S. state.
Rather than bouncing back from pandemic-era highs, the study indicates that hunger is growing in the Lone Star State. Texas’ food insecure population is up 17.6% from 5.4 million the year before.
In San Antonio, 21.3% of the population — or a larger percentage than the state average — experiences food insecurity. Data also shows that more than one in four San Antonio children experience hunger.
The food-insecure population in the San Antonio area grew to 629,590 people in 2024, including 188,600 children.
Black San Antonians continue to be hit hardest by food insecurity, with one in three experiencing it, and the population’s food insecurity rate jumping from 30% to 32% over the study period. Food insecurity among San Antonio Latinos has remained at 25%.
Although the Alamo City’s white residents remain the least food-insecure population, the percentage affected still increased from 11% to 12% from 2023 to 2024.
Texas seniors also experienced a rise in food insecurity during the study period. The percentage of hungry seniors grew from 13.6% to 15.1%.
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