Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany
Germany: Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems was 99.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany, 2011–2025
Source: European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany stood at 99.3%. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany peaked at 99.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 85.7%, in 2011.
Germany ranks 4th of 29 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 85.7% | — |
| 2012 | 87.1% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 89.4% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 89.8% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 90.3% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 93.1% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 93.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 94.0% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 94.4% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 94.5% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 95.2% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 96.0% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 96.3% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 99.3% | +3.1% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 99.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 58.2%, 1.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Germany's 99.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.0%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 90.3% | 85.7% | 94.0% | 8 |
| 2020s | 95.9% | 94.4% | 99.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany?
- Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in Germany was 99.3% in 2025, according to European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 99.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.7% in 2011.
- How does Germany rank for share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems?
- Germany ranks 4th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cage-free housing systems include barns and free-range (non-organic and organic) farms.