Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
45 million people rely on food assistance in the US
Executive Summary
The claim that "45 million people rely on food assistance in the US" is not supported by the most recent federal data: the USDA reports an average of 41.7 million SNAP participants per month in fiscal year 2024, a figure consistently cited in 2025 reporting [1]. Older analyses and coverage have cited numbers near 45 million for earlier years (notably around 2011–2015), and contemporaneous news stories during the 2025 government shutdown described roughly 42 million people at risk of losing benefits — numbers that are close but distinct from the stated 45 million [2] [3] [4] [5]. Overall, the best available, recent evidence indicates the claim slightly overstates current SNAP enrollment by about 3–4 million people; however, the underlying reality — that tens of millions of Americans depend on federal food assistance — remains accurate and consequential [1] [4].
1. Why the 45 million figure spread and where it came from — historic surge and policy context
In the aftermath of the Great Recession and through expansions under both the Bush and Obama administrations, SNAP enrollment rose sharply, and several reports from the 2010s recorded figures near 45 million participants; a 2012 analysis and some policy reviews referenced the program serving roughly 45 million people in 2011, reflecting economic conditions and expanded eligibility at that time [2] [3]. Those historical data points are accurate for their periods, but enrollment levels have declined and shifted with the economy, policy changes, and administrative factors since then. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorcies and academic studies documented both the rise and subsequent declines in caseloads through 2015–2016, noting that program costs and eligibility changes influenced numbers — a reminder that a single snapshot often reflects a specific policy and economic moment rather than a stable long-term count [6] [3].
2. The most recent federal snapshot — USDA’s 41.7 million in FY2024
The USDA Economic Research Service’s July 2025 reporting provides the clearest recent federal estimate: an average of 41.7 million SNAP participants per month in fiscal year 2024, representing about 12.3 percent of the population that year [1]. This federal statistic is the most relevant metric when assessing current reliance on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because it uses administrative enrollment and participation data. Comparing 41.7 million to the 45 million claim shows the statement is an overestimate of current SNAP participation by about 3.3 million people, even while still underscoring the program’s scale. The ERS materials also show demographic splits — children, working-age adults, and seniors — which contextualize who depends on SNAP today [7] [8].
3. News coverage during the 2025 shutdown — near-term impacts and different framing
Recent news coverage during the 2025 government shutdown frequently reported that about 42 million people were at risk of losing benefits as SNAP funds faced interruptions, and food banks saw surging demand as benefits were halted [4] [5]. These news figures align closely with USDA’s 41.7 million and were often used to describe the immediate operational consequences of a shutdown rather than to assert a long-term baseline enrollment number. Media accounts emphasized the operational risk to recipients and charities, reporting spikes in food bank usage and the strain on local providers, which can produce headlines that sound like definitive caseload totals even as they reflect short-term crises [5] [4].
4. Different metrics matter — participation vs. people relying on “food assistance”
The quoted statement conflates a narrow metric (monthly SNAP participants) with a broader concept (people who rely on any form of food assistance). SNAP is the largest federal program, and USDA counts report monthly average participation; however, other programs (WIC, school meals, emergency food assistance, state and local programs) add people who receive food help at different times. If “rely on food assistance” intends to capture all program users across varied services in a year, the number could differ from the monthly SNAP count, and some older studies have aggregated multiple programs leading to higher totals cited historically [3] [2]. Clarifying the measure — monthly SNAP participants, annual recipients across programs, or people assisted during a crisis — is essential to judge the accuracy of the 45 million claim.
5. Bottom line and caveats for use: slightly overstated but substantively correct about scale
The statement that 45 million people rely on food assistance in the US overstates current monthly SNAP enrollment by roughly 3–4 million compared with USDA’s most recent FY2024 average of 41.7 million [1]. However, the claim captures the broader truth that tens of millions of Americans depend on federal nutrition programs, and variations across time, program definitions, and short-term crises (like the 2025 shutdown) explain why different sources give numbers ranging from about 41–45 million [4] [5] [2]. Users quoting a figure should specify the metric and date — for example, “41.7 million average monthly SNAP participants in FY2024 (USDA)” — to avoid conflating historical peaks or multi-program aggregates with the current SNAP caseload [1] [6].