Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland
Ireland: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 1.06 million hens in 2025. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland, 2013–2025
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 Ireland is 1.06 million hens, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 14.9% on the previous year and down 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland peaked at 1.88 million hens in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.06 million hens, in 2025.
That places Ireland 18th out of 29 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1.61 million hens | — |
| 2014 | 1.65 million hens | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.88 million hens | +13.5% |
| 2016 | 1.88 million hens | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.88 million hens | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.88 million hens | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.88 million hens | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.88 million hens | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.71 million hens | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 1.49 million hens | -12.7% |
| 2024 | 1.25 million hens | -16.4% |
| 2025 | 1.06 million hens | -14.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.06 million hens is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 40% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.06 million hens is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 million hens, 40% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.81 million hens | 1.61 million hens | 1.88 million hens | 7 |
| 2020s | 1.48 million hens | 1.06 million hens | 1.88 million hens | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Ireland was 1.06 million 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.88 million hens in 2016.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.06 million hens in 2025.
- How does Ireland rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Ireland ranks 18th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes battery and enriched cage systems.