From the towering flock of 46.3 billion pounds of chicken produced in the U.S. alone to the soaring global consumption of nearly 100 million metric tons, the numbers behind the chicken industry reveal a colossal and complex machine that feeds the world.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. broiler production reached 46.3 billion pounds of ready-to-cook chicken, marking a 1.5% increase from 2021
- Global chicken meat production in 2023 was estimated at 102.5 million metric tons, up 2.8% from the previous year
- Brazil produced 14.9 million metric tons of chicken meat in 2022, accounting for 15% of global output
- In 2022, U.S. per capita chicken consumption reached 98.9 pounds, up 1.3% from 2021
- Global chicken meat consumption grew to 90 million metric tons in 2023, at 11.2 kg per capita
- China's per capita chicken consumption was 15.5 kg in 2022, comprising 25% of meat intake
- U.S. chicken exports reached 7.6 billion pounds in 2022, valued at $5.1 billion
- Global chicken trade volume was 13.5 million tons in 2023, worth $40 billion
- Brazil exported 4.8 million tons of chicken in 2022, generating $9.2 billion revenue
- U.S. chicken industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2022, with average wage $45,000 annually
- Global poultry workforce estimated at 20 million in 2023
- Brazil chicken sector jobs 1.5 million direct in 2022
- Global chicken industry emitted 1.2 billion tons CO2e in 2023 from production
- U.S. chicken production water use 1,200 gallons per pound in 2022
- Brazil chicken farming deforested 500,000 hectares indirectly in 2022 via feed soy
The global chicken industry steadily grows in production, consumption, and economic impact.
Consumption and Demand
- In 2022, U.S. per capita chicken consumption reached 98.9 pounds, up 1.3% from 2021
- Global chicken meat consumption grew to 90 million metric tons in 2023, at 11.2 kg per capita
- China's per capita chicken consumption was 15.5 kg in 2022, comprising 25% of meat intake
- Brazil consumed 50 kg of chicken per capita in 2022, highest in South America
- EU per capita chicken consumption averaged 24.5 kg in 2022
- India's chicken consumption rose to 5.2 kg per capita in FY2023, doubling from 2013
- U.S. retail chicken sales volume was 25 billion pounds in 2022
- Mexico's per capita consumption hit 36 kg in 2022
- Russia chicken consumption 28 kg per capita in 2022
- Japan's annual chicken intake 12.5 kg per capita in 2022
- Thailand per capita chicken consumption 20 kg in 2022
- Iran's consumption 18 kg per capita in 2023
- Australia's chicken consumption 48 kg per capita in 2022
- Egypt consumed 12 kg per capita chicken in 2023
- Indonesia per capita 6.5 kg in 2022, growing 7% annually
- UK chicken consumption 30 kg per capita in 2022
- Philippines per capita 15 kg in 2023
- Saudi Arabia consumed 45 kg per capita in 2022
- Vietnam chicken consumption 14 kg per capita in 2023
- Canada per capita 33 kg in 2022
- Turkey (country) 22 kg per capita in 2022
- Argentina consumed 38 kg per capita in 2023
- South Africa chicken consumption 40 kg per capita in 2022
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
The world is running on chicken, but at wildly different speeds, with Americans nearly hitting a hundred-pound personal best while others are just warming up their appetites.
Economic and Financial
- U.S. chicken exports reached 7.6 billion pounds in 2022, valued at $5.1 billion
- Global chicken trade volume was 13.5 million tons in 2023, worth $40 billion
- Brazil exported 4.8 million tons of chicken in 2022, generating $9.2 billion revenue
- U.S. poultry industry contributed $65 billion to GDP in 2022
- China imported 1.2 million tons of chicken in 2022, valued at $2.5 billion
- EU chicken export value was €3.5 billion in 2022
- India's poultry sector turnover reached $20 billion in FY2023
- Mexico chicken exports $1.1 billion in 2022, mainly to U.S.
- Average U.S. broiler price was $1.25 per pound in 2022
- Russia's chicken industry revenue $15 billion in 2022
- Thailand chicken exports $3.5 billion in 2022
- Global chicken farmgate price averaged $2.50/kg in 2023
- Iran's poultry exports $500 million in 2023
- Australia poultry industry value $4.5 billion in 2022
- U.S. chicken processing costs rose 8% to $0.45/lb in 2022
- Egypt poultry sector GDP contribution 2.5% in 2023
- Indonesia chicken market size $12 billion in 2022
- UK poultry farm income £250 million net in 2022
- Philippines poultry industry $6 billion in 2023
- Saudi chicken imports cost $2 billion in 2022
- Vietnam poultry exports $1.8 billion in 2023
- Canada chicken farm cash receipts $3.5 billion CAD in 2022
- Turkey poultry exports $3 billion in 2022
- Argentina chicken exports $1.2 billion in 2023
Economic and Financial Interpretation
While America's $65 billion poultry GDP shows it rules the roost at home, Brazil's $9.2 billion export haul proves the global pecking order is fiercely contested, with everyone from China to Saudi Arabia hungry for a piece of the $40 billion worldwide bird.
Environmental and Animal Welfare
- Global chicken industry emitted 1.2 billion tons CO2e in 2023 from production
- U.S. chicken production water use 1,200 gallons per pound in 2022
- Brazil chicken farming deforested 500,000 hectares indirectly in 2022 via feed soy
- EU poultry manure produced 50 million tons nitrogen in 2022
- U.S. broiler farms used 2.5 billion kWh energy in 2022
- Global chicken feed production caused 15% of arable land use in 2023
- India poultry wastewater discharge 10 billion liters annually in 2023
- Mexico chicken GHG emissions 20 million tons CO2e in 2022
- 95% of U.S. broilers raised in conventional barns with density 0.8 sq ft/bird in 2022
- China chicken farms antibiotic use 50,000 tons in 2022
- Thailand poultry methane emissions 5 million tons in 2022
- U.S. chicken litter recycled as fertilizer on 70% of farms in 2022
- Global fast-growing broiler breeds reach market weight in 42 days, mortality 3-5%
- EU banned battery cages for layers, improving welfare for 300 million hens in 2022
- Brazil chicken transport mortality under 0.5% with ventilation trucks in 2022
- U.S. 25% of broilers antibiotic-free in 2022, up from 10% in 2018
- Indonesia poultry ammonia emissions 1 million tons from manure in 2022
- UK chicken stocking density regulated at 39 kg/m² max in 2022
- Philippines farms vaccinate 90% of broilers against Newcastle disease in 2023
- Saudi Arabia imports 80% chicken to reduce local water use by 50%
- Vietnam chicken waste biogas potential 500 million m³/year in 2023
- Canada slow-growing broilers used on 15% farms for welfare in 2022
- Turkey enforces EU welfare standards post-2022 audits
- Argentina chicken carbon footprint 4.5 kg CO2e/kg meat in 2023
Environmental and Animal Welfare Interpretation
While our collective appetite for chicken has made it the world's most popular meat, this statistic-stuffed barnyard reveals a flock of serious environmental and ethical costs that can no longer be pecked at around the edges of our dinner plates.
Production and Supply
- In 2022, U.S. broiler production reached 46.3 billion pounds of ready-to-cook chicken, marking a 1.5% increase from 2021
- Global chicken meat production in 2023 was estimated at 102.5 million metric tons, up 2.8% from the previous year
- Brazil produced 14.9 million metric tons of chicken meat in 2022, accounting for 15% of global output
- The U.S. hatched 9.4 billion broiler chicks in 2022, with a hatchability rate of 82.5%
- In 2023, China's chicken production hit 24 million metric tons, driven by domestic demand growth of 3.2%
- EU-27 chicken slaughter volume was 4.8 billion heads in 2022, averaging 2.1 kg carcass weight per bird
- India produced 4.7 million metric tons of poultry meat in FY2023, with broilers comprising 95% of output
- U.S. turkey production in 2022 was 5.2 billion pounds, but chicken dominated with 89% of total poultry output
- Global broiler feed consumption reached 180 million tons in 2023, with corn comprising 65% of ingredients
- Mexico's chicken production grew to 3.5 million metric tons in 2022, up 4% year-over-year
- U.S. chicken flock size averaged 178 million broilers on farm in 2022
- Russia produced 4.6 million metric tons of chicken in 2022 despite sanctions
- Thailand exported chicken equivalent to 1.3 million tons in 2022, but domestic production was 1.8 million tons
- U.S. broiler liveweight averaged 6.3 pounds in 2022, up from 6.1 in 2021
- Iran's poultry production reached 2.7 million metric tons in 2023, with 98% chicken
- Australia produced 1.2 million tons of chicken meat in 2022, with per capita output of 45 kg
- U.S. layer hen population was 383 million in 2022, supporting egg production tied to chicken industry
- Japan’s chicken production was 2.5 million metric tons in 2022, reliant on imports for 20% of feed
- Egypt produced 1.6 million tons of poultry meat in 2023, growing at 5% annually
- U.S. processed 8.9 billion broilers in 2022, with 95% further processed
- Indonesia's chicken output was 3.4 million metric tons in 2022, up 6%
- UK chicken production volume was 1.9 million tons in 2022
- Philippines produced 1.8 million tons of chicken in 2023
- U.S. broiler hatcheries placed 8.7 billion chicks in 2022
- Saudi Arabia's production hit 1.4 million tons in 2022
- Vietnam chicken production 1.1 million tons in 2023
- Canada produced 1.3 million tons of chicken in 2022
- Turkey (country) produced 2.3 million tons in 2022
- Argentina chicken output 2.0 million tons in 2023
Production and Supply Interpretation
It seems the world is engaged in a quietly ferocious and statistically precise chicken race, where global clucks and pounds ascend while dinner plates everywhere are conquered one scientifically optimized bird at a time.
Workforce and Employment
- U.S. chicken industry employed 1.2 million workers in 2022, with average wage $45,000 annually
- Global poultry workforce estimated at 20 million in 2023
- Brazil chicken sector jobs 1.5 million direct in 2022
- U.S. processing plants numbered 300, employing 600,000 in 2022
- China poultry farm labor 8 million workers in 2022
- EU poultry employment 400,000 full-time equivalents in 2022
- India poultry workforce 4 million in FY2023
- Mexico chicken industry jobs 500,000 in 2022
- U.S. farm labor in poultry 200,000 workers, 60% seasonal in 2022
- Russia poultry sector employed 250,000 in 2022
- Thailand chicken processing labor 150,000 in 2022
- Average U.S. poultry worker turnover rate 80% annually in 2022
- Iran's poultry employment 300,000 direct jobs in 2023
- Australia poultry workforce 40,000 in 2022
- Egypt poultry jobs 1 million in 2023
- Indonesia chicken sector labor 2 million in 2022
- UK poultry farm workers 25,000 full-time in 2022
- Philippines poultry employment 800,000 in 2023
- Saudi Arabia poultry labor 100,000 expatriates in 2022
- Vietnam chicken industry jobs 1.2 million in 2023
- Canada poultry workforce 60,000 in 2022
- Turkey poultry employment 200,000 in 2022
- Argentina chicken sector jobs 150,000 in 2023
Workforce and Employment Interpretation
The global poultry industry's labor force could populate a small country, yet it runs on a surprisingly delicate wire, as evidenced by the U.S.'s 80% annual turnover rate next to its $45,000 average wage.
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