SNAP reliance and benefits by state
Nearly 42 million individuals across the United States are covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to May 2025 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with a monthly benefit of around $188 per person. The use of the SNAP program and benefit amounts vary greatly by state, meaning residents in some areas will be more affected by the program’s halted payments in November, resulting from the ongoing government shutdown.
With this in mind, SmartAsset evaluated the most recent SNAP program data to determine each state population’s reliance on the program and the estimated individual and total benefits received.
Key Findings
Over 20% of the population claims SNAP benefits in New Mexico. New Mexico has the highest reliance on the SNAP program nationwide, with 21.5% of residents enrolled in the program. These beneficiaries receive an average of $176.51 per month each. Oregon has the second-highest rate of SNAP enrollment, at 18.1% of the population.These states receive the highest SNAP payouts per person. Alaska and Hawai’i both receive nearly double the average SNAP benefit per person, at $364.31 and $361.78 per month, respectively. New York ($218.44), Massachusetts ($215.64), and Tennessee ($203.20) beneficiaries receive the highest average payouts among the contiguous states.California receives over $1 billion per month in SNAP benefits. Despite ranking 13th overall for reliance on SNAP, California’s sheer size makes it the most expensive state for SNAP by a wide margin. The SNAP program pays out roughly $1.045 billion per month to beneficiaries in the state, compared to $647 million in New York, $614 million in Texas, and $535 million in Florida.Wyoming is the least dependent on SNAP. Wyoming claims the lowest percentage of the population enrolled in SNAP, at 4.62%. Statewide, 27,122 total beneficiaries receive an average of $183.81 per month each. Utah has the second-lowest reliance, at 5.05%, followed by New Hampshire, at 5.37%.
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SNAP Beneficiaries and Benefits by State: 2025
States are ranked based on the percentage of residents enrolled in the SNAP program.
New Mexico
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 21.49%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 457,699Households enrolled: 248,010One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.52%Total monthly benefits paid out: $80,790,060Average SNAP benefit per person: $176.51
Oregon
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 18.09%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 772,893Households enrolled: 454,718One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.70%Total monthly benefits paid out: $140,797,421Average SNAP benefit per person: $182.17
Louisiana
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 17.49%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 803,988Households enrolled: 397,526One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -3.61%Total monthly benefits paid out: $150,268,544Average SNAP benefit per person: $186.90
Oklahoma
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 16.91%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 692,477Households enrolled: 339,504One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.50%Total monthly benefits paid out: $129,386,266Average SNAP benefit per person: $186.85
West Virginia
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 15.46%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 273,566Households enrolled: 146,769One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.49%Total monthly benefits paid out: $45,886,908Average SNAP benefit per person: $167.74
Nevada
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 15.21%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 496,848Households enrolled: 270,987One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.28%Total monthly benefits paid out: $85,360,880Average SNAP benefit per person: $171.80
Massachusetts
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 15.08%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,076,187Households enrolled: 661,429One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -4.13%Total monthly benefits paid out: $232,066,810Average SNAP benefit per person: $215.64
Pennsylvania
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 14.97%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,958,047Households enrolled: 1,069,170One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.81%Total monthly benefits paid out: $355,777,154Average SNAP benefit per person: $181.70
New York
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 14.91%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 2,962,913Households enrolled: 1,745,549One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -0.10%Total monthly benefits paid out: $647,210,404Average SNAP benefit per person: $218.44
Illinois
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 14.79%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,879,564Households enrolled: 1,036,667One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -3.54%Total monthly benefits paid out: $368,278,250Average SNAP benefit per person: $195.94
Michigan
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 14.53%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,473,832Households enrolled: 781,600One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.92%Total monthly benefits paid out: $258,575,524Average SNAP benefit per person: $175.44
Alabama
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 14.27%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 736,178Households enrolled: 369,276One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.80%Total monthly benefits paid out: $142,142,795Average SNAP benefit per person: $193.08
California
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 13.93%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 5,494,318Households enrolled: 3,255,676One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.92%Total monthly benefits paid out: $1,045,310,679Average SNAP benefit per person: $190.25
Kentucky
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.97%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 595,155Households enrolled: 286,577One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 7.05%Total monthly benefits paid out: $106,498,834Average SNAP benefit per person: $178.94
Rhode Island
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.83%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 142,726Households enrolled: 89,424One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.23%Total monthly benefits paid out: $28,680,737Average SNAP benefit per person: $200.95
Florida
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.59%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 2,943,012Households enrolled: 1,660,076One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.22%Total monthly benefits paid out: $535,551,777Average SNAP benefit per person: $181.97
North Carolina
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.48%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,378,291Households enrolled: 687,718One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.59%Total monthly benefits paid out: $240,858,724Average SNAP benefit per person: $174.75
Ohio
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.21%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,450,955Households enrolled: 741,867One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 3.54%Total monthly benefits paid out: $269,917,495Average SNAP benefit per person: $186.03
Georgia
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.13%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 1,356,493Households enrolled: 657,367One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.85%Total monthly benefits paid out: $252,417,633Average SNAP benefit per person: $186.08
Mississippi
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 12.13%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 357,042Households enrolled: 177,575One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -4.53%Total monthly benefits paid out: $64,432,174Average SNAP benefit per person: $180.46
Arizona
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.70%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 887,253Households enrolled: 444,810One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -4.27%Total monthly benefits paid out: $161,705,602Average SNAP benefit per person: $182.25
Maine
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.64%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 163,520Households enrolled: 97,103One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -5.62%Total monthly benefits paid out: $28,869,975Average SNAP benefit per person: $176.55
Wisconsin
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.56%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 689,315Households enrolled: 367,659One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.93%Total monthly benefits paid out: $112,973,934Average SNAP benefit per person: $163.89
Washington
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.38%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 905,471Households enrolled: 531,127One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 1.48%Total monthly benefits paid out: $167,068,578Average SNAP benefit per person: $184.51
Hawai’i
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.31%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 163,576Households enrolled: 84,333One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 5.03%Total monthly benefits paid out: $59,178,123Average SNAP benefit per person: $361.78
Delaware
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.24%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 118,209Households enrolled: 60,298One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 2.13%Total monthly benefits paid out: $21,340,950Average SNAP benefit per person: $180.54
Texas
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 11.04%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 3,455,085Households enrolled: 1,581,331One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 9.81%Total monthly benefits paid out: $614,386,464Average SNAP benefit per person: $177.82
Maryland
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 10.67%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 667,981Households enrolled: 371,828One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -4.30%Total monthly benefits paid out: $121,902,010Average SNAP benefit per person: $182.49
Missouri
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 10.50%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 655,940Households enrolled: 322,265One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.09%Total monthly benefits paid out: $128,629,589Average SNAP benefit per person: $196.10
South Carolina
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 10.37%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 567,895Households enrolled: 271,592One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.65%Total monthly benefits paid out: $105,867,349Average SNAP benefit per person: $186.42
Colorado
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 10.32%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 614,843Households enrolled: 334,341One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 4.56%Total monthly benefits paid out: $120,493,408Average SNAP benefit per person: $195.97
Vermont
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 9.97%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 64,633Households enrolled: 39,213One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.91%Total monthly benefits paid out: $12,199,424Average SNAP benefit per person: $188.75
Connecticut
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 9.89%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 363,524Households enrolled: 217,128One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -7.57%Total monthly benefits paid out: $70,118,853Average SNAP benefit per person: $192.89
Tennessee
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 9.55%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 690,545Households enrolled: 341,555One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -3.85%Total monthly benefits paid out: $140,318,213Average SNAP benefit per person: $203.20
Virginia
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 9.36%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 824,866Households enrolled: 425,195One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.73%Total monthly benefits paid out: $143,392,688Average SNAP benefit per person: $173.84
Alaska
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 8.97%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 66,377Households enrolled: 31,194One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -16.55%Total monthly benefits paid out: $24,181,479Average SNAP benefit per person: $364.31
New Jersey
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 8.69%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 826,094Households enrolled: 441,324One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.81%Total monthly benefits paid out: $160,778,766Average SNAP benefit per person: $194.63
Indiana
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 8.47%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 586,403Households enrolled: 280,166One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.56%Total monthly benefits paid out: $114,763,019Average SNAP benefit per person: $195.71
Iowa
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 8.24%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 267,158Households enrolled: 130,767One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 3.21%Total monthly benefits paid out: $45,159,537Average SNAP benefit per person: $169.04
South Dakota
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 8.14%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 75,282Households enrolled: 37,712One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -0.36%Total monthly benefits paid out: $14,923,544Average SNAP benefit per person: $198.24
Minnesota
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 7.80%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 451,966Households enrolled: 237,118One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -0.58%Total monthly benefits paid out: $71,616,027Average SNAP benefit per person: $158.45
Arkansas
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 7.76%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 239,748Households enrolled: 126,839One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 1.45%Total monthly benefits paid out: $41,434,391Average SNAP benefit per person: $172.82
Nebraska
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 7.51%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 150,600Households enrolled: 74,727One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -2.91%Total monthly benefits paid out: $27,258,920Average SNAP benefit per person: $181.00
North Dakota
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 7.17%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 57,129Households enrolled: 28,532One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 13.76%Total monthly benefits paid out: $9,959,141Average SNAP benefit per person: $174.33
Montana
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 7.08%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 80,523Households enrolled: 41,792One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.78%Total monthly benefits paid out: $13,743,731Average SNAP benefit per person: $170.68
Idaho
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 6.67%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 133,545Households enrolled: 67,707One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 0.50%Total monthly benefits paid out: $23,906,189Average SNAP benefit per person: $179.01
Kansas
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 6.26%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 186,036Households enrolled: 93,122One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -0.80%Total monthly benefits paid out: $32,971,957Average SNAP benefit per person: $177.23
New Hampshire
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 5.37%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 75,717Households enrolled: 42,596One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -1.72%Total monthly benefits paid out: $12,838,748Average SNAP benefit per person: $169.56
Utah
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 5.05%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 177,087Households enrolled: 89,026One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: 2.24%Total monthly benefits paid out: $34,030,139Average SNAP benefit per person: $192.17
Wyoming
Percent of population with SNAP benefits: 4.62%Number of SNAP beneficiaries: 27,122Households enrolled: 13,073One-year change in SNAP beneficiaries: -7.45%Total monthly benefits paid out: $4,985,385Average SNAP benefit per person: $183.81
Data and Methodology
Data for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services SNAP Data Tables for May 2025 (accessed in November 2025). States are ranked based on the percentage of the population enrolled in the SNAP program as of May 2025. Population estimates come from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
