Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States
United States: Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems was 45.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States, 2007–2025
Source: European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 45.3% for share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in 2025. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is up 14.6% on the previous year and up 256.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States peaked at 45.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2007.
United States ranks 19th of 29 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3.2% | — |
| 2008 | 3.5% | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | +22.2% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +22.7% |
| 2012 | 9.6% | +78.4% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | +9.0% |
| 2015 | 12.7% | +20.5% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 16.0% | +19.0% |
| 2018 | 17.8% | +11.4% |
| 2019 | 23.4% | +31.2% |
| 2020 | 28.0% | +19.8% |
| 2021 | 33.6% | +19.9% |
| 2022 | 34.1% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 38.5% | +13.0% |
| 2024 | 39.5% | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 45.3% | +14.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 45.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 58.0%, 78% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 4.4% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.5% | 28.0% | 45.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States?
- Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems in United States was 45.3% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2007.
- How does United States rank for share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems?
- United States ranks 19th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 256.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 19 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.