States who use the most food stamps

LA

Out of all the tragic consequences of the economic crisis, conceivably the most ruinous is the reality that each day, more and more Americans are struggling to feed their families.

Recent stats from the USDA specify that 14.2 percent of the United States’ population participated in SNAP; now officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in February 2011.

In particular, nearly 20 percent of the residents of some Southern states rely on food stamps. Click continue for a list of the top 10 states whose residents rely on SNAP.

nc

10. South Carolina
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 18.2 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 7.1 percent
2010 Total State Population: 4,625,364

maine

9. Maine
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 18.6 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 8 percent
2010 Total State Population: 1,328,361

wv

8. West Virginia
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 18.7  percent
Annual increase since 2010: 2.4  percent
2010 Total State Population: 1,852,994

kentucky

7. Kentucky
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 18.8 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 5.9 percent
2010 Total State Population: 4,339,367

LA

6. Louisiana
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 19.2 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 7.5 percent
2010 Total State Population: 4,533,372

mi

5. Michigan
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 19.7 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 11.4 percent
2010 Total State Population: 9,883,640

nm

4. New Mexico
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 19.8 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 17.9 percent
2010 Total State Population: 2,059,179

tn

3. Tennessee
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 19.8 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 17.9 percent
2010 Total State Population: 6.2 million

or

2. Oregon
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 20.1 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 9.6 percent
2010 Total State Population: 3,831,074

mi

1. Mississippi
Percentage of Population on Food Stamps: 20.7 percent
Annual increase since 2010: 8.4 percent
2010 Total State Population: 2,967,297