In this page, you’ll find curated and vetted list of chicken farming statistics from around the world. We categorized the statistics into general chicken farming, meat production, meat consumption egg production, and industry ethics for easier reading.
General Chicken Farming Statistics
There are more chickens in the world than there are any other species of bird: more than 50 billion of them are reared annually for food – The Guardian
For chickens, modern rations produce about 0.5 kg (1 pound) of broiler on about 0.9 kg (2 pounds) of feed and a dozen eggs from 2 kg (4.5 pounds) of feed. – Encyclopædia Britannica
In the UK about 19 birds are reared per m2 – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
The value of sales from chickens (excluding broilers) in 2018 was $49.4 million, up 5 percent from $47.0 million a year ago. The number of chickens sold in 2018 totaled 190 million, down slightly from the total sold during the previous year – United States Department Of Agriculture
Chicken ranks 12th among California’s top 20 commodities, with a farm-gate value of about $630 million, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture 2006 Directory. – California Poultry Federation
The top 5 broiler producing [US] states are: Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Mississippi. – National Chicken Council
In 2019, there are 25,000 family farms [in the US] growing broilers and/or producing hatching eggs. – National Chicken Council
In 2017 there were 22.85 billion chickens worldwide, up from 14.38 billion chickens in 2000. – Statista
There are 160 slaughter/evisceration plants in the US with 355,000 of workers directly employed. – National Chicken Council
A typical farm will gross about $50,000 to $75,000 per year from poultry ($25,000 per chicken house). – National Chicken Council
Chicken Meat Production Statistics
The United States has the largest broiler chicken industry in the world with about 16 percent of production exported to other countries. – National Chicken Council
In 2019, over 9.2 billion broiler chickens, weighing 58.3 billion pounds, liveweight, were produced. More than 42.1 billion pounds of chicken product was marketed, measured on a ready-to-cook basis. – National Chicken Council
Over 7.4 billion chickens were slaughtered for meat in the EU28 in 2017, producing over 12 million tonnes of chicken meat – Compassion In World Farming
In 2017, roughly 1.1 billion chickens were slaughtered for meat in the UK, producing approximately 1.6 million tonnes of chicken meat – Compassion In World Farming
Between 2000 and 2011, chicken meat production in Africa expanded by almost five per cent per year as output climbed to 4.62 million tonnes. – The Poultry Site
Over the last decade, there has been a five per cent annual increase in chicken meat output from Africa countries, which has increased the continent’s share of global production – The Poultry Site
Nearly 9 billion chickens are raised and killed for meat each year in the U.S – Animals Are Not Ours
In 2017, the average person from the USA consumed 48.0 kg/head/yr of broiler chicken – Compassion In World Farming
The largest exporter of chicken meat globally is Brazil, followed by the USA and the Netherlands. – Compassion In World Farming
The largest importer of chicken meat is Saudi Arabia, followed by Mexico and Hong Kong SAR. – Compassion In World Farming
In 2016, the EU imported 2,549,190 tonnes of chicken meat. – Compassion In World Farming
Back in 1950, chicken was eaten as a treat; British people ate less than a kilo in a whole year. Now, we eat on average 25kg in a year – that’s more than 2 kg per month. – Compassion In World Farming
Over 70% of chickens raised for meat globally are raised in intensive industrial farming systems. This includes the majority of chickens in the UK, Europe, the US and China, as well as rapidly increasing numbers in developing countries. – Compassion In World Farming
In the US – the average slaughter age is 47 days at a weight of 2.8 kg – Compassion In Farming
In the EU – the average slaughter age is 42 days at a weight of 2.5 kg – Compassion In Farming
Chickens should either be reared until they reach the minimum slaughter age of 81 days or shall come from slow-growing chicken breeds (also reared until 81 days of age) – Compassion In Farming
The market for chicken meat has grown dramatically since then, with worldwide exports reaching nearly 12.5 million metric tons (about 13.8 million tons) by the early 21st century. – Encyclopædia Britannica
A modern broiler chick can reach a 2.3-kg (5-pound) market weight in five weeks, compared with the four months that were required in the mid-20th century. – Encyclopædia Britannica
Today broiler chickens are the most numerous farmed species of chicken, with 40 billion being reared worldwide every year. – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
UK broilers are reared in large houses typically holding 20,000 – 30,000 birds or more. – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
UK broilers are slaughtered at around 6 weeks old, over 100,000 a day die before that age, many of painful, distressing conditions – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
There has been a consistent decrease in the age at which slaughter weight is reached by one day per year. Male broilers currently grow from approximately 40 grams as day-old chicks to around 2.6 kg in 42 days – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
A recent study of Danish commercial broiler flocks found 30 percent of broilers had gait defects that affected their ability to move about – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
Broilers reared under the British Farm Standard scheme (with the red tractor mark) can be stocked at densities of up to 38kg/m2. A stocking density of 38kg/m2 equates to only 526cm2 of space for a 2kg bird considerably less than the size of an A4 sheet of paper – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
The stocking density for free-range birds throughout Europe must not exceed 13 birds (or 27.5kg liveweight) per m2 of floor space – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
In 2013-14, Victoria produced 243,000 tonnes of chicken meat, accounting for around 22 per cent of Australia’s 1,084,000 tonnes of chicken meat production – Chicken Industry Profile
Australian chicken meat production increased by 4 percent from the previous year to 1.08 million tonnes in 2013-14, from approximately 580 million meat chickens. – Chicken Industry Profile
According to Poultry World, just 11% of UK chicken production is slower growing, meaning that 89% of UK chickens are produced in fast growing factory farming systems. – Compassion In World Farming
In the European Union, intensively farmed chickens are bred to reach their slaughter weight in less than 6 weeks. – Compassion In World Farming
In 2006, California processed over 250 million broilers, ranking California 12th in the nation in broiler production. – California Poultry Federation
In May 2001, it was reported that over the previous 12 months, 817 million broiler chicks were reared on UK farms alone for meat production. Most are reared on farms with 100,000 birds or more – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
Chicken Meat Consumption Statistics
Americans consume more chicken (young meat chicken and fowl) than anyone else in the world – more than 98 pounds per capita in 2019 – the number one protein consumed in the United States. – National Chicken Council
Average broiler chicken meat consumption per capita in 2017 in the EU28 was 19.4 kg/head/yr. – Compassion In World Farming
Average broiler chicken meat consumption per capita in the UK was 23.2 kg/head/yr in 2016, increasing from 22.9 kg/head/yr in 2015. – Compassion In World Farming
Consumption of poultry in Australia, of which chicken meat is around 96 per cent, has increased from around 4.4 kg per person per year in 1960 to around 44.0 kg in 2012-13 – Chicken Industry Profile
Chicken Egg Production Statistics
China produced the highest number of eggs in 2017, at an amazing 529 billion. In contrast, the second leading producer, the United States, only produced about 106.7 billion eggs in that year. – Statista
The UK egg market produced 10.02 billion eggs in 2015 and a further 2 billion were imported. – The Guardian
Modern commercial hens produce a very high yield of around 300 eggs a year. Chickens will naturally live for 6 or more years but after 12 months of laying, the hen’s productivity will start to decline. Compassion In World Farming
If hens are prevented from hatching their own eggs or brooding chicks, they will start to lay again more quickly – after just 21 days, instead of the usual three months. – Food And Agriculture Organisation Of The United Nations
Under ideal lighting and heating conditions, egg-producing hens (Gallus gallus) in an industrial henhouse may produce one egg every 23–26 hours. – Encyclopædia Britannica
In order to meet the consumer demand for eggs, 280 million hens laid 77.3 billion eggs in 2007. – Farms Sanctuary
Because male chicks will not grow up to lay eggs and, therefore, have little value to the egg industry, 260 million are killed each year upon hatching. – Farms Sanctuary
95% of egg-laying hens spend their lives in battery cages. Battery cages commonly hold 5–10 birds, and each chicken may be given an amount of floor space equivalent to less than a sheet of letter-size paper. – Farms Sanctuary
Today’s hen, selectively bred and artificially induced to yield high egg production, will produce more than 250 eggs annually, compared to 100 eggs annually a century ago. – Farms Sanctuary
The lifespan of an industry chicken would be 5–8 years. However, when egg production declines after 1–2 years, hens are considered “spent” and sent to slaughter. – Farms Sanctuary
Chicken Farming Industry Ethics
Approximately in 2019, 30 federally-inspected companies are involved in the business of raising, processing and marketing chickens on a “vertically integrated” basis – that is, the company is able to ensure quality at each step of the process.- National Chicken Council
Chicken production in Brazil typically follows intensive practices, with approximately 98% of chickens produced in factory farm systems. – Compassion In World Farming
Almost 90 broiler flocks were examined in a cross-sectional study across the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands, where 15.6% of chickens were considered lame. – Compassion In World Farming
A large study based on Dutch, British, Italian and Belgian flocks found that on average, 57% of the fast-growing chickens had severe walking problems. This was compared to flockswith alternative, slower-growing chickens wherein only about 17% had severe walking problems. – Compassion In World Farming
Prevalence of foot pad dermatitis in these flocks was about 22% in standard fast-growing broilers and around 7% in slower growing broilers in the EU – Compassion In World Farming
Prevalence of hock burns was about 20% in standard, fast growing broilers and less than 1% in slower growing broilers from alternative housing systems in the EU.- Compassion In World Farming
A study of Netherlands-based broiler production found that only around 35% of chickens within their research had no footpad dermatitis lesions, compared to over 21% that had mild lesions and over 38% that had severe lesions on their feet. – Compassion In World Farming
A comprehensive UK-based study using over 50,000 broiler chickens showed that at an average age of 40 days old, almost 30% of the birds had poor locomotion ability and over 3% were almost incapable of walking. – Compassion In World Farming
A large research project using 2248 broiler chickens housed in UK intensive systems found that 14.8% of chickens had footpad dermatitis. – Compassion In World Farming
Some higher welfare systems keep chickens indoors but give them more space (around 12 to 14 birds per square metre) than intensive systems. – Compassion In World Farming
In organic systems, chickens have outdoor access for at least a third of their life, and a larger space allowance outside (at least 4 square metres) than in free range systems. – Compassion In World Farming
Organic chickens are slower growing, and more traditional breeds are often used. They commonly grow at half the rate of chickens on intensive farms and live for at least 70 days before slaughter. – Compassion In World Farming
Newly hatched chicks require ambient temperatures of 89.6°F to 95°F and relative humidity of 60% to 70% – Compassion In Farming
The maximum stocking density is 21 kg/m2 inside the chicken shed and at least 4 per square metre per bird is provided outside – Compassion In Farming
The cage system of rearing birds has been considered as a super intensive system providing floor area of 450-525 sq.cm. (0.6-0.75 sq.feet) per bird. In the cage the birds are kept in one, two or three per cage, arranged in single or double or triple rows. TNAU Agritech Portal
A 2006 study found that 55% of uncooked chicken purchased from supermarkets contained arsenic, which is known to cause cancer in humans. Arsenic is added to the feed of approximately 70% of the broilers raised each year because it is believed to promote growth. – Farms Sanctuary
Studies have consistently shown that approximately 26–30% of broiler chickens suffer from difficulty walking because their skeletons have trouble supporting their rapidly growing bodies. – Farms Sanctuary
In the UK, one study found that at 39-49 days old they spend more than three-quarters of their time lying down, and a dramatically reduced time performing natural behaviours such as ground pecking – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
Laying hens of the same age [as broilers] spend less than 30 percent of their time sitting – RSPCA Report on Welfare of Broiler Chicken
