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Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs: Charts

 
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SNAP/FSP participants, people in poverty, and unemployed people, 1980-2008
Year
SNAP/FSP participants1
People in poverty2
Unemployed people (not seasonally adjusted)3
 
Millions
1980
21.1
29.3
7.6
1981
22.4
31.8
8.3
1982
21.7
34.4
10.7
1983
21.6
35.3
10.7
1984
20.9
33.7
8.5
1985
19.9
33.1
8.3
1986
19.4
32.4
8.2
1987
19.1
32.2
7.4
1988
18.6
31.7
6.7
1989
18.8
31.5
6.5
1990
20.1
33.6
7.0
1991
22.6
35.7
8.6
1992
25.4
38.0
9.6
1993
27.0
39.3
8.9
1994
27.5
38.1
8.0
1995
26.6
36.4
7.4
1996
25.5
36.5
7.2
1997
22.9
35.6
6.7
1998
19.8
34.5
6.2
1999
18.2
32.3
5.9
2000
17.2
31.6
5.7
2001
17.3
32.9
6.8
2002
19.1
34.6
8.4
2003
21.3
35.9
8.8
2004
23.9
37.0
8.1
2005
25.7
37.0
7.6
2006
26.7
36.5
7.0
2007
26.5
37.3
7.1
2008
28.4
—
8.7
 
— Data not available.

1Source: USDA, Food and Nutrition Service. Data as of November 2008 are preliminary and subject to revision. Data refer to the average monthly number of participants during the fiscal year. See http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/SNAPsummary.htm

2Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau. Data refer to the number of persons in poverty during the calendar year.

3Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data refer to the number of persons unemployed during the calendar year. Figures for 2008 are through November.

 

Go to the list of charts
Go to the Supplemental Nutritrion Assistance Program (SNAP) briefing room

 

 

 

 
For more information, contact: John A. Kirlin

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
Updated date: April 15, 2009