Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy
Italy: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 14.68 million hens in 2025. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy, 2012–2025
Source: European Commission (2026) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hens.
Analysis
In 2025, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy stood at 14.68 million hens.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 54.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy peaked at 43.23 million hens in 2012 and was at its lowest, 14.43 million hens, in 2021.
Italy ranks 5th of 29 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 43.23 million hens | — |
| 2013 | 40.97 million hens | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 40.41 million hens | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 31.95 million hens | -20.9% |
| 2016 | 27.35 million hens | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 21.60 million hens | -21.0% |
| 2018 | 27.36 million hens | +26.7% |
| 2019 | 19.68 million hens | -28.1% |
| 2020 | 17.23 million hens | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 14.43 million hens | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 15.40 million hens | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 14.70 million hens | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 14.50 million hens | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 14.68 million hens | +1.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 14.68 million hens is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 5.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Italy's 14.68 million hens is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 million hens, 5.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 31.57 million hens | 19.68 million hens | 43.23 million hens | 8 |
| 2020s | 15.16 million hens | 14.43 million hens | 17.23 million hens | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Italy was 14.68 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 43.23 million hens in 2012.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.43 million hens in 2021.
- How does Italy rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Italy ranks 5th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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.