A food bank presents a place where are stocks of food, usually basic provisions, and nonperishable items, which are supplied free of charge to people in need. Food bank networks work together in order to help as many people as they can with their fight against hunger and starvation.
In today’s article, we’re going to cover data and statistics of food banks around the world that operates on a daily basis in order to decrease the hunger rate.
8 Important Food Bank Statistics (Editor’s Pick)
- The Global FoodBanking Network has 811 member food banks.
- In 2019, food banks provided food for 16.9 million people.
- Food banks increased their reach by 132%.
- Feeding America provides food for 46 million Americans each year.
- The UK’s need for food banks has increased by 128%.
- In 2020, African food banks served 169% more people than in 2019.
- Food for All Africa reached 508 charity organizations.
- Lagos Food Bank Initiative helped 1,6 million beneficiaries.
26 Food Bank Statistics & Facts
1. In 2013, 62% of food-insecure households participated in at least 1 Federal food assistance program.
Back in 2013, more than 60% of food-insecure households needed help to fight hunger and to actually have food on a daily basis. Food insecurity often leads to hunger and starvation, as well as many hunger-related diseases, especially when we’re talking about kids and their growth and development. Due to that, many such households participated in at least 1 out of 3 food assistance programs. No doubt that now, there are even more people who need help.
Source: DoSomething
2. About 72% of food banks understand that the amount of distributed food needs to be adjusted to the communities’ needs.
Even though food banks are trying their best in order to help communities, as well as countries on a global level, a lot of them don’t feel like they could meet the needs of their communities unless the amount of distributed food is adjusted to fit the needs of people seeking for humanitarian help and food assistance.
Source: DoSomething
3. The Global FoodBanking Network has 811 member food banks all around the world.
The Global FoodBanking Network works all around the world in order to nourish hungry people through uniting and advancing food banks. The network has 811 food banks that distribute grocery products and food to hungry people through 55,013 local beneficiary organizations.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
4. The Network has almost 280,000 volunteers.
According to The Global FoodBanking Network, such an organization has 278,000 volunteers and more than 59,000 agencies and community service organizations. People and organizations took the responsibility of feeding their communities, and along with partners, they reach out through soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, afterschool programs, daycares, and many other organizations.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
5. There was a 23% increase in served food in 2018.
The report from The Global FoodBanking Network stated that in 2018, more than 950 food banks across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia served 9.6 million hungry people. That was a 23% increase from the previous year. The report also stated that food banks are now present in 80 countries worldwide.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
6. In 2019, food banks provided food to 16.9 million people.
The widespread Global FoodBanking Network reached out and provided food assistance to almost 17 million people in 2019. That number is definitely higher now, especially if we take into account all the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
7. There has been an 82% increase in the number of distributed food and grocery products.
According to The Global FoodBanking Network report for 2019, there has been an increase in the number of distributed food and grocery products. Their report states that food banks provided 82% more of such products and food. That calculates more than 919.7 million kilograms of food and products.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
8. Food banks increased their reach by 132%.
The Global FoodBanking Network served 40 million people in 40 countries in 2020. The high number of served people presents a 132% increase over service in 2019. Such a significant increase in people accessing food banks is the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
9. The Global FoodBanking Network distributes 882 million kilograms of food and grocery products.
If we’re talking only about The Global FoodBanking Network and all its members and food banks across the world, the network distributes 882 million kilograms of grocery products and food to those in need. As we already mentioned, food helped out 40 million people in 40 countries.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
10. Feeding America provides food for more than 46 million Americans each year.
Feeding America is a network of 200 food banks located in 50 states of America. The organization is working for more than 40 years and helps struggling families to put food on their tables. Feeding America helps more than 46 million Americans (1 in 7 people), including 7 million seniors, and 12 million children. The organization provides food pantries and meal programs.
Source: Feeding America
11. Food banks in America had an almost 50% increase in meals distribution.
Feeding America network of food banks had a 44% increase in distributed meals in 2020. The food banks distributed more than 6 billion meals, which is almost 50% higher than they did in 2019. The situation in America was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Feeding America
12. In 2021, approximately 2.5 million people in the UK used a food bank.
The United Kingdom struggles with high levels of hunger and food insecurity. There, the biggest problem is a lack of income. In 2021, the year when the world is still fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 2.5 million people used a food bank in the United Kingdom.
Source: Statista
13. About 2.5 million emergency food parcels were given to people in the UK.
According to the Trussell Trust network, 2.5 million emergency food parcels were given to people in crisis by food banks between April 2020 and 31 March 2021. That was a 33% increase than in the previous time range (2019-2020). 980,000 of the food parcels were given to children.
Source: The Trussell Trust
14. London needed the most food parcels.
Speaking of people in need in the United Kingdom, the highest number of emergency food parcels, 421,426 of them, were given in London. 313,015 food parcels were given in North West England. South East part of the country was given 302,905 food parcels. Scotland has a high number of hungry people too. The food bank of the Trussell Trust gave emergency packages to 221,554 Scots.
Source: The Trussell Trust
15. The UK’s need for food banks has increased by 128%.
Compared to five years ago, the data from the report by The Trussel Trust stated that there is a high increase in the need for food banks. The increase of 128% indicates how high the number of food-insecure and hungry people is in the UK.
Source: The Trussell Trust
16. Global COVID-19 recovery campaign helped millions of people in need.
The Global FoodBanking Network launched a global COVID-19 recovery campaign. Until today, the network has deployed $15.7 million in grants. It provided more than 13,000 hours of technical assistance to scale capacity in high-need areas. The network empowered community leaders of food banks to provide more child feeding programming and secured the global supply chain of fresh food.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
17. Due to pandemic, food banks serve almost 200,000 more people per month.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on people’s life. According to the report by The Global FoodBanking Network, the food banks are serving an average of nearly 200,000 more people per month than they did prior to COVID-19.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
18. In 2020, African food banks served 169% more people than the year before.
The annual report by The Global FoodBanking Network estimated that food banks in Africa have the highest increase in people served globally. Right after the African food banks, comes Latin America. The food banks there served 157% more people than in 2019.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
19. FoodForward South Africa has reached almost 500,000 people and provided them with much-needed food assistance.
FoodForward South Africa has during 2020/2021 distributed 29 million meals and reached nearly 500,000 people daily. Their food assistance was forwarded through a network of 1,000 beneficiary organizations across all 9 provinces in South Africa.
Source: FoodForward South Africa
20. There were around 7,2 tons of distributed food in Africa.
In the period of 2020/2021, the organization distributed 7,2 tons of food which accounted for the already mentioned 29 million meals. FoodForward South Africa now has 50% more beneficiary organizations than it has in the time range of 2019/2020.
Source: FoodForward South Africa
21. Food for All Africa distributed more than 140,000 tons of food.
Food for All Africa operates West Africa’s first and largest food bank. The organization provides healthy nutrition for vulnerable communities through food recovery, redistribution, and advocacy. The main beneficiaries of the organization are children, youth, the aged, and the disabled. Food for All Africa distributed more than 142,783 tons of food. Food for All Africa operates through more than 70 beneficiary organizations.
Source: Food for All Africa
22. In 2021, Food for All Africa served 5 times more meals.
According to the organization’s 2021 impact summary report, food banks served more than 3 million meals. The target for 2021 was to serve at least 600,000 meals. This is 5 times more meals served! However, even though the organization managed to reach and surpass its meal expectations, they haven’t reached the number of people as hoped. Out of 350,000 planned, they reached only 117,272 people.
Source: Food for All Africa
23. The organization surpasses the expectations of reached charities too.
In 2020, Food for All Africa reached 65 charities and served them with food assistance and fresh products. The goal for 2021 was to reach 230 charities. The action managed to surpass the goal and it reached 508 charity organizations.
Source: Food for All Africa
24. The food bank is serving more than 3,000 meals to homeless people in Accra.
According to the Food For All Africa data, in Ghana, the country where food prices are tripling, the organization is providing and serving 3,500 hot meals on a daily basis to Accra’s homeless population.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
25. Lagos Food Bank Initiative helped 1,6 million beneficiaries.
Lagos Food Bank Initiative has 12,000 registered volunteers, it reached 138 communities, and impacted 1,6 million beneficiaries. The organization created a food banking system that includes school feeding, community nutrition-based interventions, urban farming, job placement for beneficiary resilience and self-sustenance, daily mobile pantry services, and walk-in-beneficiaries.
Source: Lagos Food Bank Initiative
26. The Global FoodBanking Network hopes to improve food access for 50 million people by 2030.
The Global FoodBanking Network wants to improve food access for 50 million people through food banking by 2030. The goal is a bit high and optimistic but through a well-spread network all across the world, as well as with many partners, organizations, food donors, and volunteers, it is definitely possible to reach.
Source: The Global FoodBanking Network
To Wrap It Up
The food banking network has a huge impact on society and communities in need. Food assistance and meals help millions of people on a daily basis all around the world. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is an even higher demand for food banks and their assistance in fighting hunger and starvation. With a help of a massive number of volunteers and partners, the percentage of reached and helped people will surely increase.
