Millions of Aussies skipping meals or going days without eating due to cost

Up to 20 per cent of Australian households are skipping meals or going days without eating, a new report has found.

One in five Aussie households admitted to missing meals, whilst 3.5 million said they had experienced food insecurity in the last year, according to Foodbank's Hunger Report for 2025.

The Australian Government defines food insecurity as anxiety or uncertainty about the quality or access to food, or where meals are missed or inadequate from a nutritional standpoint.

BREAKING NEWS: Three killed, multiple injured after cargo plane crashes in US airport

The concerning numbers are a small increase from last year, with renters and families feeling the pinch especially.

Almost half of all renters reported experiencing some sort of food insecurity, with 30 per cent saying they have had to skip meals.

The number of two-parent households with children struggling with food jumped to 39 per cent.

A staggering 68 per cent of single-parent households reported struggling for food.

Of these responders, 46 per cent said their food insecurity was severe.

Reasons for rising food insecurity include changes to living arrangements, natural disasters, and rising living expenses.

Aussies have also revealed the measures they are resorting to as cost-of-living pressures continue to bite.

READ MORE: One person is $20 million richer, they just don't know it yet

This includes cutting back on foods high in protein or on fresh produce, which has a significant impact on human health.

Nearly 30 per cent of people with severe food insecurity admitted they used buy now pay later apps or credit cards to pay for groceries, while 12 per cent said they have been forced to move to lower cost accommodation.

Experts say urgent action needs to be taken to fix a problem affecting millions of Aussies in the short-term and for years to come.

"For millions of Australians, the basics of life, food, shelter and security are still far from guaranteed in spite of what we hear about economic improvement," Foodbank chief executive and former politician Kylea Tink said.

"Greater investment in food relief, combined with action on the underlying causes of hunger including housing affordability, income inequality, and tax policy, is essential."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.