How many people receive SNAP benefits in the US every month?
Updates published monthly
About 41.7 million people during fiscal year (FY) 2024. That’s 12.3% of the US population. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is determined based on household income levels. SNAP, once known as the Food Stamp program, is administered by the Department of Agriculture providing food assistance to low-income individuals.
41.7M
average number of monthly SNAP recipients (FY 2024)
12.3%
of the US population received SNAP benefits (FY 2024)
Participation in the federal food assistance program peaked in FY 2013, when an average 47.6 million people received benefits every month.
In FY 2024, an average of 41.7 million people received SNAP benefits every month.
Average monthly SNAP recipients
The 12.3% of the population receiving SNAP benefits in FY 2023 is more than double the share in FY 2000 when 6.1% of people were recipients. Since 2000, In FY 2013, 15% of the US population received SNAP benefits, the highest share of any year during the program's history.
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On average, 12.3% of the US population received monthly SNAP benefits in FY 2024.
Percentage of population receiving monthly SNAP payments, annual average
While SNAP is a federally funded program led by the Department of Agriculture, it is administered primarily by state governments. Participation differs across states, reflecting both economic situations and local program policy. In FY 2024, state-level participation rates ranged from a low of 4.8% in Utah to a high of 21.2% in New Mexico.
In FY 2024, New Mexico had the highest share of its population receiving SNAP payments.
Percentage of population receiving monthly SNAP payments
Households with children are likelier to participate in the program than those without children. In 2023, 19.1% of all households with children participated in SNAP compared with 9.4% without children. 40.1% of single female-parent households participated in the program compared with 3.9% of married-couple households without children under 18.
In 2023, households with children received more SNAP benefits than those without children.
Percentage of household type receiving SNAP benefits
Qualifying for SNAP benefits is based on how close a household's income level is to the national poverty line. If expenses aren't considered (i.e., gross monthly income), households must make less than 30% above the federal poverty level. If expenses are considered, households must make less than the federal poverty level.
Alaska and Hawaii have higher income cutoffs due to higher costs of living in those states.
Federal monthly income requirements for SNAP, excluding Alaska and Hawaii
| 1. | One | $1,255 |
| 2. | Two | $1,704 |
| 3. | Three | $2,152 |
| 4. | Four | $2,600 |
| 5. | Five | $3,049 |
| 6. | Six | $3,497 |
| 7. | Seven | $3,945 |
| 8. | Eight | $4,394 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
