Chicken Population: How Many Are Born Annually Globally?

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, with their numbers continuing to rise each year. In 2022, there were approximately 26.56 billion chickens worldwide, up from 13.9 billion in 2000. The United States is the leading country in chicken production, with 9.22 billion chickens, and the top chicken-producing state is Iowa. The U.S. chicken industry breeds and slaughters about 9.5 billion chickens annually, while Africa produces 2.07 to 2.08 billion broiler chickens each year for commercial slaughter. With such high demand for chicken meat and eggs, the number of chickens born every year is staggering.

In 2022, there were 26.56 billion chickens worldwide

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, and their numbers continue to rise every year. In 2000, there were 13.9 billion chickens worldwide. By 2021, this number jumped to 25.8 billion. And in 2022, there were 26.56 billion chickens worldwide. This number is subject to some flexibility as new chickens are hatched, raised, and slaughtered each day. The chicken factory farming industry is a never-ending machine that keeps satisfying global production needs for slaughtered chickens.

The United States is the leading country in chicken production, with 9.22 billion chickens. The leading state in the chicken farming industry is Iowa, which has the highest chicken population and is a leading producer, with the most eggs at 17.1 billion eggs produced annually. This accounts for 15% of total US egg production. The US poultry industry breeds and slaughters about 9.5 billion chickens every year, with Americans consuming 69.3 pounds of boneless chicken per year.

Africa produces 2.07 to 2.08 billion broiler chickens each year for slaughter in the commercial chicken industry. However, Africa has many more backyard chickens and small-scale private chicken farming setups that produce even more chickens that aren’t accounted for. Australia produced 1.2 million tons of chicken between 2019 and 2020, with high consumption at 104.6 pounds of chicken per year per Australian. New Zealand contributes 24.8 million chickens to the world's chicken population, bred on 180 factory farms and several free-range farms.

According to data from FAO, at any point in time, there are about 27.61 billion chickens in production. Since industrially bred chickens rarely live longer than a few months, the number of chickens born and killed every year is far higher: 73.79 billion. Globally, just under 74 billion chickens are killed annually for human consumption, with a worldwide consumption of nearly 140 million tons of chicken meat. Chickens outnumber humans by a ratio of about 3.5 to 1, or even 5 to 1 according to some sources.

The US slaughters 9.5 billion chickens every year

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, and their numbers continue to rise every year. In 2022, there were an estimated 26.56 billion chickens worldwide, with 27.6 billion chickens alive at any given moment. The US chicken industry breeds and slaughters about 9.5 billion chickens every year, which equates to around 26 million birds killed every day, or a little over a million chickens an hour. This means that the US is responsible for around a third of the global chicken slaughter each year.

Chicken consumption in the US has been rising for decades, finally surpassing cows as the most-consumed animal in 2010. Chicken is often cheaper and more versatile than beef, and consumers may eat it several times a week. Chickens are also smaller animals, so a switch from beef to chicken results in more animals being killed for each meal. The average person in the US eats 69.3 pounds of boneless chicken per year, and the US has over 168,000 poultry farms, a number that is increasing over time.

The chicken meat industry is highly concentrated, with just a handful of companies controlling the entire market. This is known as an oligopoly, where a few large companies exert control over the entire industry. As of 2020, four companies—Tyson, Pilgrim's Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Mountaire Farms—controlled over half of the market, while small companies held about 20% of the total.

The slaughter of chickens often raises concerns about animal welfare. Chickens are exempt from The Humane Slaughter Act, and the standard for poultry slaughter is "good commercial practices" rather than specifying "humane". Once they reach the slaughterhouse, chickens are shackled upside down, a process that often breaks their legs, before being passed through an electrocuted water bath meant to stun them. Finally, the birds are placed in scalding-hot water to help remove their feathers. However, some birds are not sufficiently stunned by the electrocution bath and remain conscious while being boiled.

Africa produces 2 billion broiler chickens for slaughter

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, and their numbers continue to rise every year. In 2021, there were 25.8 billion chickens worldwide. As of 2022, there are around 26.56 billion chickens globally. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are 27.6 billion chickens alive at any given moment. However, the number of chickens born and killed every year is much higher, at 73.79 billion.

Africa produces 2.07 to 2.08 billion broiler chickens for slaughter in the commercial chicken industry. This makes Africa a significant contributor to the global chicken population. The continent's large-scale production of broiler chickens is driven by several factors, including the growing demand for chicken meat, urbanization, and the preference for chicken over other types of meat.

Chicken is the first choice of meat for most Africans, according to Kevin Lovell, chief executive of the South Africa Poultry Association. The higher cost of beef and religious restrictions around pork in parts of Africa contribute to the preference for chicken. As more people move to cities, their dietary patterns change, and they are more likely to choose meat from fast-food outlets, including global chains that have expanded across the continent.

Africa's poultry industry faces challenges, including the high cost of feed and the lack of access to broiler chickens, which are specifically bred and raised for meat consumption. International companies also flood the market with cheap chickens, making it difficult for local farmers to compete. Despite these challenges, Africa's poultry industry continues to grow, with imports of chicken to sub-Saharan Africa tripling between 2004 and 2014.

The top poultry producers in Africa include RCL Foods Ltd., which is the continent's largest chicken processor, slaughtering 260 million chickens in 2017. Other leading companies include Cairo Poultry Co. (CPC), Country Bird Holdings, Sovereign Food Investments, and Arab Poultry Breeders Co. These companies operate in various African countries and contribute significantly to the continent's poultry production.

China produced 584 billion eggs in 2022

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, with their numbers continuing to rise each year. In 2000, there were 13.9 billion chickens in the world. By 2021, this number rose to 25.8 billion, and in 2022, the global chicken population was around 26.56 billion. According to the USDA, there are more than 373 million egg-laying hens in the US alone, which is predicted to increase further.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of eggs. In 2022, China produced 584 billion eggs. This massive production involves about 400,000 chicks being hatched every day in highly automated and modernised facilities. China's large-scale egg production is part of the country's $37 billion egg industry, which is undergoing rapid modernisation. The shift from backyard farming to factory farming is intended to improve quality and safety, addressing previous food safety scandals.

China's high egg production and consumption are evident in its rapid response to the global bird flu outbreak in late 2022. While other countries like Japan and the US faced egg shortages, China maintained a stable egg supply and price. The country's quick action against bird flu and its efficient food transport system ensured well-stocked supermarket shelves and local stores.

China's self-sufficiency in egg production is notable, with a rate of 100% in 2022. While China exports a small percentage of its eggs, the majority are consumed domestically. The Chinese consume more eggs per capita than almost any other population, with an average of about 280 eggs per person annually. This high consumption is sustained by the country's large-scale egg production systems.

The US also plays a significant role in global egg production, with Iowa being the leading egg-producing state. In February 2022, Iowa produced 1.07 billion eggs, contributing to 15% of the total US egg production. However, the US has faced challenges with bird flu, resulting in the culling of 43 million hens in the year leading up to March 2023, which significantly impacted egg prices.

The average American eats 69.3 pounds of chicken a year

Chickens are one of the most populous animals on the planet, with their numbers continuing to rise annually. In 2000, there were 13.9 billion chickens worldwide, increasing to 25.8 billion by 2021, and reaching 26.56 billion in 2022.

The high demand for chicken in the US has resulted in the country breeding and slaughtering about 9.5 billion chickens annually. This equates to approximately 26 million birds killed daily, or a little over one million chickens every hour.

The US chicken industry is highly concentrated, with a handful of companies controlling the market. This oligopoly structure has allowed large companies, such as Tyson, Pilgrim's Pride, Sanderson Farms, and Mountaire Farms, to dominate the market, while smaller companies hold only about 20% of the market share.

While chicken consumption is high in the US, it is important to consider the environmental and animal welfare concerns associated with the industry. The large-scale production and consumption of chicken have raised ethical questions, leading some individuals to reduce their overall meat intake or adopt vegetarian or vegan diets.

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