Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States
United States: Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing was 164.80 million hens in 2025. ▼ Falling
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States, 2007–2025
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 United States is 164.80 million hens, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.4% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States peaked at 281.60 million hens in 2014 and was at its lowest, 164.80 million hens, in 2025.
United States ranks 1st of 29 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States, year by year
| Year | hens | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 275.27 million hens | — |
| 2008 | 270.20 million hens | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 273.13 million hens | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 265.07 million hens | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 266.28 million hens | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 265.50 million hens | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 276.40 million hens | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 281.60 million hens | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 256.10 million hens | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 276.10 million hens | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 275.10 million hens | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 276.10 million hens | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 261.00 million hens | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 235.50 million hens | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 219.40 million hens | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 205.30 million hens | -6.4% |
| 2023 | 197.70 million hens | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 184.00 million hens | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 164.80 million hens | -10.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 164.80 million hens is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.63 million hens, 62.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 272.87 million hens | 270.20 million hens | 275.27 million hens | 3 |
| 2010s | 269.93 million hens | 256.10 million hens | 281.60 million hens | 10 |
| 2020s | 201.12 million hens | 164.80 million hens | 235.50 million hens | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States?
- Laying hens in cages and cage-free housing in United States was 164.80 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 281.60 million hens in 2014.
- What is the lowest laying hens in cages and cage-free housing recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 164.80 million hens in 2025.
- How does United States rank for laying hens in cages and cage-free housing?
- United States ranks 1st out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is laying hens in cages and cage-free housing rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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 — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes battery and enriched cage systems.