Data

Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems

About this data

Cage-free housing systems include barns and free-range (non-organic and organic) farms.

Source

European Commission (2022); European Commission (2026); European Commission (2025); Defra (2026); USDA (2018); USDA (2025); Welfare Footprint Institute (2022) – processed by Our World in Data

Last updated

April 28, 2026

Date range

1996–2025

Unit

More Data on Animal Welfare

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

European Commission – Laying hens by way of keeping

Number of laying hens in EU member states by housing system (enriched cages, furnished cages, barn, free-range, and organic).

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

This is the citation of the original data obtained from the source, prior to any processing or adaptation by Our World in Data. To cite data downloaded from this page, please use the suggested citation given in Reuse This Work below.

European Commission - Laying hens by way of keeping (2022), Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Number of laying hens in EU member states by housing system (enriched cages, furnished cages, barn, free-range, and organic).

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

European Commission - Laying hens by way of keeping (2022), Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

European Commission – Eggs market situation dashboard (2026-04-22)

Weekly dashboard published by the European Commission presenting the market situation for eggs in the EU, including data on the structure of the laying hen flock by housing system (enriched cages, barn, free range, organic) for EU member states.

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Eggs market situation dashboard (2026-04-22).

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Eggs market situation dashboard (2026-04-22).

European Commission – Eggs market situation dashboard (2025-01-29)

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Eggs market situation dashboard (2025-01-29).

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/animal-products/eggs_en

Citation

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Eggs market situation dashboard (2025-01-29).

Defra – UK egg statistics

Defra runs a quarterly voluntary survey of 27 registered UK egg packing stations, covering around 75% of eggs packed in the UK, with a response rate of typically 100 per cent. It collects data on egg throughput by production type (enriched cage, barn, free range, organic), which are used to estimate UK-level figures.

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/egg-statistics

Citation

Quarterly UK statistics on Egg Packing Station Throughput and Prices, by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom.

Retrieved on

April 16, 2026

Retrieved from

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/egg-statistics

Citation

Quarterly UK statistics on Egg Packing Station Throughput and Prices, by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom.

USDA – Egg Markets Overview

A weekly publication of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division.

Retrieved on

April 17, 2026

Retrieved from

https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/concern/publications/73667q50n

Citation

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Egg Markets Overview, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division.

A weekly publication of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division.

Retrieved on

April 17, 2026

Retrieved from

https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/concern/publications/73667q50n

Citation

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Egg Markets Overview, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division.

Welfare Footprint Institute – Global hen inventory

Retrieved on

April 28, 2026

Retrieved from

https://welfarefootprint.org/research-projects/laying-hens/

Citation

Welfare Footprint Institute based on various sources.

Algeria: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Argentina: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Armenia: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Australia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Austria: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Azerbaijan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Bangladesh: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Belarus: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Belgium: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture).
Brazil: IBGE: Produção de Ovos de Galinha - POG (2019); Proportions in 'Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture)'.
Brunei: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Bulgaria: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Canada: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Chile: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report; Proportion by system: Oficina de Estudios y Politicas Agrarias (https://www.odepa.gob.cl/rubros/huevos).
China: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Colombia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Croatia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Cuba: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Cyprus: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Czechia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Denmark: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ecuador: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Egypt: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Estonia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Finland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
France: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Georgia: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Germany: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture); International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ghana: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Hungary: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
India: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; IEC Annual Review 2019.
Indonesia: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Iran: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ireland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Italy: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Japan: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Kazakhstan: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Kyrgyzstan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Latvia: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture).
Libya: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Lithuania: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Luxembourg: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Malaysia: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Malta: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Mexico: Compendio de Indicadores Economicos del Sector Agricola (UNA).
Morocco: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Netherlands: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
New Zealand: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Nigeria: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Norway: Animalia. KJØTTETS TILSTAND 2020. Status i norsk kjøtt- og eggproduksjon.
Pakistan: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Papua New Guinea: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries; International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Peru: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Philippines: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Poland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Portugal: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
South Korea: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Romania: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Russia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Saudi Arabia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Singapore: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Slovakia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Slovenia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
South Africa: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Spain: Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación; IEC Annual Review 2019.
Sweden: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Switzerland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Tajikistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Taiwan: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Thailand: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Turkey: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Turkmenistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Ukraine: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
United Arab Emirates: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
United Kingdom: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
United States: USDA. Chicken and Eggs. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United Egg Producers.
Uruguay: Encuesta Postura Comercial, 2016. Estadísticas Agropecuarias (DIEA).
Uzbekistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Venezuela: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Vietnam: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.

Retrieved on

April 28, 2026

Retrieved from

https://welfarefootprint.org/research-projects/laying-hens/

Citation

Welfare Footprint Institute based on various sources.

Algeria: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Argentina: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Armenia: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Australia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Austria: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Azerbaijan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Bangladesh: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Belarus: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Belgium: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture).
Brazil: IBGE: Produção de Ovos de Galinha - POG (2019); Proportions in 'Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture)'.
Brunei: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Bulgaria: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Canada: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Chile: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report; Proportion by system: Oficina de Estudios y Politicas Agrarias (https://www.odepa.gob.cl/rubros/huevos).
China: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Colombia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Croatia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Cuba: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Cyprus: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Czechia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Denmark: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ecuador: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Egypt: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Estonia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Finland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
France: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Georgia: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Germany: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture); International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ghana: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Hungary: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
India: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; IEC Annual Review 2019.
Indonesia: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Iran: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Ireland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Italy: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Japan: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Kazakhstan: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Kyrgyzstan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Latvia: Sector Dialogues EU-BR 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture).
Libya: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Lithuania: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Luxembourg: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Malaysia: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Malta: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Mexico: Compendio de Indicadores Economicos del Sector Agricola (UNA).
Morocco: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Netherlands: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
New Zealand: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Nigeria: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Norway: Animalia. KJØTTETS TILSTAND 2020. Status i norsk kjøtt- og eggproduksjon.
Pakistan: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Papua New Guinea: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries; International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Peru: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Philippines: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Poland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Portugal: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
South Korea: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Romania: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
Russia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Saudi Arabia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Singapore: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Slovakia: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Slovenia: Egg Dashboard. 2018. European Commission (DG ESTAT, DG AGRI), MSs notifications (CIR) (EU) 2017/1185 and Regulation (EC) 617/2008, GTA.
South Africa: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Spain: Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentación; IEC Annual Review 2019.
Sweden: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Switzerland: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Tajikistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Taiwan: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.
Thailand: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International.
Turkey: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
Turkmenistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Ukraine: Windhorst, 2020. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in the Emerging Market Countries between 2007 and 2017. Zootecnica International; Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
United Arab Emirates: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
United Kingdom: International Egg Commission (IEC) Annual Review 2019 (no longer public, and only available to IEC members).
United States: USDA. Chicken and Eggs. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United Egg Producers.
Uruguay: Encuesta Postura Comercial, 2016. Estadísticas Agropecuarias (DIEA).
Uzbekistan: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Venezuela: Windhorst, 2017. Housing system in laying hen husbandry (part 2). Table 4.
Vietnam: Windhorst, 2018. Dynamics and patterns of the egg industry in APEC member countries. IEC Report.

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All data and visualizations on Our World in Data rely on data sourced from one or several original data providers. Preparing this original data involves several processing steps. Depending on the data, this can include standardizing country names and world region definitions, converting units, calculating derived indicators such as per capita measures, as well as adding or adapting metadata such as the name or the description given to an indicator.

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Notes on our processing step for this indicator

Data for the UK, US, and EU member states are sourced from official statistics. Data for other countries are taken from a compilation by the Welfare Footprint Institute, which combines national statistics and industry reports.
For the UK, hen housing counts and shares are approximated from the share of eggs produced in each housing type, due to limited data availability.
For the US, pastured hens are included under free-range, and organic hens not reported as free-range or pastured are included under barn or aviary.

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“Data Page: Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems”, part of the following publication: Hannah Ritchie, Pablo Rosado, and Max Roser (2023) - “Animal Welfare”. Data adapted from European Commission, Defra, USDA, Welfare Footprint Institute. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260429-120536/grapher/eggs-cage-free.html [online resource] (archived on April 29, 2026).

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European Commission (2022) and other sources – processed by Our World in Data

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European Commission (2022); European Commission (2026); European Commission (2025); Defra (2026); USDA (2018); USDA (2025); Welfare Footprint Institute (2022) – processed by Our World in Data. “Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems” [dataset]. European Commission, “Laying hens by way of keeping”; European Commission, “Eggs market situation dashboard (2026-04-22)”; European Commission, “Eggs market situation dashboard (2025-01-29)”; Defra, “UK egg statistics”; USDA, “Egg Markets Overview”; Welfare Footprint Institute, “Global hen inventory” [original data]. Retrieved April 29, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20260429-120536/grapher/eggs-cage-free.html (archived on April 29, 2026).

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Share of egg-laying hens in cage-free systems

About this data

More Data on Animal Welfare

Sources and processing

This data is based on the following sources

European Commission – Laying hens by way of keeping

European Commission – Eggs market situation dashboard (2026-04-22)

European Commission – Eggs market situation dashboard (2025-01-29)

Defra – UK egg statistics

USDA – Egg Markets Overview

Welfare Footprint Institute – Global hen inventory

How we process data at Our World in Data

Notes on our processing step for this indicator

Reuse this work

Citations

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