In fiscal year (FY) 2022, USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) served an average of 41.1 million people per month in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
SNAP is the largest domestic nutrition assistance program, accounting for about two-thirds of USDA spending on food and nutrition assistance in recent years. The SNAP participation rate increased nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, to a high of 12.5% of the resident population of the 50 states and D.C. in FY 2021. The FY 2022 rate fell slightly to 12.3%.
SNAP participation varies across states because of differences in program administration and economic conditions.
In FY 2022, the share of residents receiving SNAP benefits in each state ranged from as high as 24.5% in New Mexico to as low as 4.6% in Utah. In 35 states, the share was somewhere between 8 and 16%. — USDA ERS
