Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany
Germany: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 414,388 hens in 2025. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany, 2011–2025
Source: European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hens.
Analysis
The most recent figure for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany is 414,388 hens, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 80.6% on the previous year and down 92.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany peaked at 6.43 million hens in 2011 and was at its lowest, 414,388 hens, in 2025.
That places Germany 24th out of 29 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 6.43 million hens | — |
| 2012 | 6.13 million hens | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 5.41 million hens | -11.8% |
| 2015 | 5.28 million hens | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 5.08 million hens | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 3.63 million hens | -28.6% |
| 2018 | 3.50 million hens | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 3.31 million hens | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 3.17 million hens | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 3.19 million hens | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 2.82 million hens | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 2.34 million hens | -16.9% |
| 2024 | 2.13 million hens | -8.8% |
| 2025 | 414,388 hens | -80.6% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 414,388 hens is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 16% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Germany's 414,388 hens is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 million hens, 16% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -80.6% | 2.13 million hens | 414,388 hens |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.85 million hens | 3.31 million hens | 6.43 million hens | 8 |
| 2020s | 2.34 million hens | 414,388 hens | 3.19 million hens | 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 laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Germany was 414,388 hens in 2025, 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 6.43 million hens in 2011.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 414,388 hens in 2025.
- How does Germany rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Germany ranks 24th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing. 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
Includes battery and enriched cage systems.