Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Netherlands
Netherlands: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 4.43 million hens in 2025. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Netherlands, 2013–2025
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 Netherlands stood at 4.43 million hens.
The figure is down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Netherlands peaked at 6.23 million hens in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.46 million hens, in 2021.
Netherlands ranks 10th of 29 countries on this measure, 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5.12 million hens | — |
| 2014 | 4.97 million hens | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 6.03 million hens | +21.3% |
| 2016 | 6.13 million hens | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 6.23 million hens | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 5.32 million hens | -14.6% |
| 2019 | 4.52 million hens | -15.0% |
| 2020 | 5.04 million hens | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 2.46 million hens | -51.1% |
| 2022 | 3.36 million hens | +36.8% |
| 2023 | 4.43 million hens | +31.6% |
| 2025 | 4.43 million hens | +0.0% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 4.43 million hens is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 4.43 million hens is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 million hens, 1.7× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.47 million hens | 4.52 million hens | 6.23 million hens | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.94 million hens | 2.46 million hens | 5.04 million hens | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More reference data data for Netherlands
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5851 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.59 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 18.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6002 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Netherlands?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in Netherlands was 4.43 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 6.23 million hens in 2017.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.46 million hens in 2021.
- How does Netherlands rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- Netherlands ranks 10th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.