Belgium vs Netherlands: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing
Belgium
3.82 million hens
in 2024
Netherlands
4.43 million hens
in 2025
Belgium rank
12th
Netherlands rank
10th
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing over time
- Belgium
- Netherlands
How they compare
Netherlands currently reports 4.43 million hens against 3.82 million hens in Belgium, a difference of 601,920 hens.
That makes Netherlands's figure about 1.2 times Belgium's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 10 shared years of data; in 2013 it was Netherlands ahead.
Belgium ranks 12th and Netherlands ranks 10th of 29 countries.
Across the 2 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 1 and Netherlands in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | Netherlands | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.27 million hens | 5.38 million hens | 1.11 million hens | Netherlands |
| 2020s | 3.94 million hens | 3.82 million hens | 118,470 hens | Belgium |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher laying hens in cages and cage-free housing, Belgium or Netherlands?
- Netherlands, at 4.43 million hens against 3.82 million hens in Belgium as of 2025.
- What is the difference in laying hens in cages and cage-free housing between Belgium and Netherlands?
- 601,920 hens, with Netherlands ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Netherlands?
- 10 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2023.
- How do Belgium and Netherlands rank globally for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Belgium ranks 12th and Netherlands ranks 10th of 29 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data, published as Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Includes battery and enriched cage systems.