HungerCount

2021

Get the whole picture

Download our full HungerCount 2021 Report here.

. . . .

"It’s been a tough year for those who struggle with hunger and we’re fearful of what’s ahead."

The

Data

YT/NT/NU

PEI

CANADA

Clickto see provincial data

Canada	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	1,303,997	145,038
Total Visits (Child)	434,281	48,035
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	20.3	-3.8
Total Meals and Snacks	3,216,631	295,662
Food Banks Reporting	2,332	688
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

YT/NT/NU	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	4,597	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	1,905	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	-24.8	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	-	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	16	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

BC	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	131,001	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	40,717	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	5.0	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	128,697	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	126	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

AB	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	116,396	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	44,586	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	29.6	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	523,019	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	154	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

SK	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	32,827	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	12,955	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	-11.8	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	6,610	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	41	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

MB	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	65,100	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	24,297	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	-	-
Total Meals and Snacks	256,485	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	9	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

ON	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	419,532	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	130,970	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	23.5	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	707,461	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	549	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

QC	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	474,002	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	160,288	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	38.1	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	1,415,652	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	1,173	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2018-2019	MISG	MISG

NB	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	20,408	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	6,544	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	-8.3	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	81,085	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	63	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

PEI	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	3,241	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	1,122	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	9.5	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	3,997	-
Food Banks Reporting	6	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2019-2021	MISG	MISG

NS	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	26,090	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	7,368	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	1.8	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	83,093	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	139	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2018-2019	MISG	MISG

NL	ALL	RURAL
Total Visits	10,803	MISG
Total Visits (Child)	3,530	MISG
% Change in Total Visits 2019-2021	0.9	MISG
Total Meals and Snacks	10,532	MISG
Food Banks Reporting	56	MISG
% of Food Banks Reporting an increase, 2018-2019	MISG	MISG
*Please note: The correct number of visits for 2018 was 10,114. There was a data collection process error in 2018, and the current percentage change takes into account the required recalculation.

Canada

ALL

RURAL

Total Visits

1,303,997

145,038

Total Visits (Child)

434,281

48,035

% Change in total 2019-2021

20.3

-3.8

Total Meals and Snacks

3,216,631

295,662

Food Banks Reporting

2,332

688

. . . .

Canada at a glance - Food Bank User Statistics

33.3%

are children

33.3% of food bank users are children while representing only 19.1% of the population

46.1%

are single adult households

Single adult households represent 46.1% of households accessing food banks, while representing only 28.2% of the population

50.5%

are on social assistance or disability-related supports

Those receiving provincial social assistance as their main source of income support represent 50.5% of households accessing food banks

Household income sources of those accessing food banks

1 in 8

are currently employed

16.2%

receive provincial disability support

1 in 10

receive pension income

Other Statistics

17.8%

are single parent households

The percentage of single adults with children using food banks is 17.8% while representing only 10.1% of the population

8.7%

are seniors

While seniors represent 8.7% of food bank users, the rate of increase is far outpacing other age groups

3,216,631

This is the number of total meals and snacks served in March 2021 (does not include Hamper programs).

Our Mandate

Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network in Canada. We do this by maximizing the collective impact of the network, strengthening the local capacity of food banks, and advocating to reduce the need for food banks.

Find a food bank in your area

policy

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

New supports for renters living with low incomes

Recommendation 2

Modernize and expand supports for low wage and unemployed workers

Recommendation 3

A path forward where no Canadian is left behind (progress towards a minimum income floor)

Recommendation 4

Increase supports for low-income single adults

Recommendation 5

Enhance measures to reduce northern food insecurity

RECOMMENDATION 1

New supports for renters living with low incomes

RECOMMENDATION 2

Modernize and expand supports for low wage and unemployed workers

RECOMMENDATION 3

A path forward where no Canadian is left behind (progress towards a minimum income floor)

RECOMMENDATION 4

Increase supports for low-income single adults

RECOMMENDATION 5

Enhance measures to reduce norther food insecurity

As is demonstrated in this report, food bank use remains at unacceptably high levels. While food banks are finding new and innovative ways to provide healthy, nutritious food and a wide variety of services to support those they serve, only long-term policy solutions can address the root causes of hunger in Canada.

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Did you know?

Food banks across Canada offer more than food. One in five offer training, education, and/or help with finding employment. Find out more by reading the full report.

Our vision is a Canada where no one goes hungry

Food Banks Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. We support a network of Provincial Associations, affiliate food banks, and food agencies that work at the community level to relieve hunger. Our work is focused on maximizing collective impact, strengthening local capacity, and reducing the need for food banks.

About

Us

Our Mandate

Find a food bank in your area

OUR

methodology

The annual HungerCount is Food Banks Canada’s signature report documenting food bank use in Canada. It is a cross-sectional, census survey of most food bank agencies, organizations and programs, within and outside of the Food Banks Canada network. The HungerCount provides a point in time snapshot of food bank use in Canada.

Food Banks Canada is always looking for ways to improve the HungerCount report. If you have questions about the report, or ideas on how we could make this research better, we would like to hear from you. Please get in touch at [email protected] and reference HungerCount.

To learn more about our data collection and analysis processes for HungerCount 2021, click here to download the full PDF report.