Hungry Kids

From 1989 to 1991, between 12 and 13 percent of children from low-income households sometimes or often did not have enough to eat. This percentage decreased to eight percent in 1994. (U.S. Government Forum on Child and Family Statistics, 1997)

In 1994, three percent of all children lived in households in which children sometimes or often did not have enough to eat, with low-income children much more likely to experience a lack of food eight percent in 1994. (ibid.)

In 1995, 4.2 million households were identified as “food insecure with severe hunger,” and nearly 700,000 children lived in these households. (CPS-Food Insecurity Study, 1995)

Approximately four million children under the age of 12 (8.9 percent), were hungry in 1993, 29 percent were hungry or at the risk of hunger. (CCHIP study)

The U.S. childhood poverty rate (1997) is approximately 20 percent, or 14 million of the 71 million total children in the U.S. (U.S. census)

The U.S. infant mortality rate, per 1,000 live births, is 7.6 (1996), the highest rate among major industrialized nations.

Uunder age five, mortality rate per 1,000 live birth is eight (1996), also the highest among major industrialized nations (Israel and Greece have higher rates but are not considered “major industrialized nations”). (Bread for the World Institute)