Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium
Belgium: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 3.82 million hens in 2024. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium, 2011–2024
Source: European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hens.
Analysis
In 2024, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium stood at 3.82 million hens.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium peaked at 6.64 million hens in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.70 million hens, in 2017.
Belgium ranks 12th of 29 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 6.64 million hens | — |
| 2012 | 6.00 million hens | -9.7% |
| 2013 | 5.11 million hens | -14.8% |
| 2014 | 5.11 million hens | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.92 million hens | -23.4% |
| 2017 | 3.70 million hens | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 3.76 million hens | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 4.00 million hens | +6.6% |
| 2020 | 3.99 million hens | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.92 million hens | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 4.04 million hens | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 3.81 million hens | -5.5% |
| 2024 | 3.82 million hens | +0.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 3.82 million hens is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 3.82 million hens is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 million hens, 1.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.78 million hens | 3.70 million hens | 6.64 million hens | 8 |
| 2020s | 3.92 million hens | 3.81 million hens | 4.04 million hens | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Belgium was 3.82 million hens in 2024, according to European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 6.64 million hens in 2011.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.70 million hens in 2017.
- How does Belgium rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Belgium ranks 12th out of 29 countries with data for 2024.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes battery and enriched cage systems.