GITNUXREPORT 2025

Egg Industry Statistics

Global egg industry valued at $221.2 billion; U.S. and China dominate production and consumption.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Approximately 66 million laying hens are kept in the U.S.

Statistic 2

The global egg market was valued at approximately $221.2 billion in 2022

Statistic 3

The meat and egg industry in the U.S. contributed about $7 billion to the economy in 2022

Statistic 4

The global egg shell market was valued at around $4 billion in 2022

Statistic 5

Approximately 80% of eggs in the U.S. are sold via supermarkets and grocery stores

Statistic 6

The global organic egg market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8% between 2023 and 2030

Statistic 7

Egg prices in the U.S. increased by over 50% during the 2022 avian influenza outbreak

Statistic 8

In 2022, the average wholesale egg price in the U.S. was about $2.50 per dozen

Statistic 9

The average cost to produce a dozen eggs in the U.S. was approximately $1.00 in 2022, including feed, labor, and overhead

Statistic 10

About 75% of eggs globally are produced under conventional caging systems

Statistic 11

The mortality rate of hens in commercial operations is usually less than 5%, with biosecurity measures improving survival

Statistic 12

The number of free-range hens in the U.S. increased by 20% between 2018 and 2022

Statistic 13

The average lifespan of a commercial hen is approximately 72 weeks, but commercial mills often cull hens earlier

Statistic 14

The incidence of Salmonella in eggs has declined by over 85% since the implementation of stricter safety standards in 2010

Statistic 15

The majority of laying hens are housed in battery cages or cage-free systems in urbanized regions

Statistic 16

The use of LED lighting in hen houses can increase egg production efficiency by up to 10%

Statistic 17

The percentage of cage-free eggs in U.S. retail markets increased from 12% in 2018 to 30% in 2022

Statistic 18

Approximately 70% of U.S. egg producers have adopted cage-free practices as of 2023, a significant increase from previous years

Statistic 19

The United States produced about 9.2 billion dozen eggs in 2022

Statistic 20

The per capita egg consumption in the U.S. was approximately 279 eggs in 2022

Statistic 21

Asia accounts for over 60% of global egg production

Statistic 22

China is the leading egg producer, producing about 600 billion eggs annually

Statistic 23

The average size of a hen house is around 20,000 hens in many commercial operations

Statistic 24

The European Union produced approximately 7.5 million metric tons of eggs in 2022

Statistic 25

Organic egg production accounts for less than 1% of global egg output

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The U.S. egg industry employs over 100,000 workers directly

Statistic 27

The average hen consumes approximately 0.15 pounds of feed per day

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About 5-7% of all eggs produced are broken during processing and packaging

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The global demand for eggs is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3% until 2030

Statistic 30

The U.S. imported approximately 200 million dozens of eggs annually, mainly from neighboring countries

Statistic 31

Shell eggs account for roughly 85% of all eggs produced globally

Statistic 32

The carbon footprint of producing one dozen eggs is approximately 4.5 pounds of CO2 equivalent

Statistic 33

Approximately 50% of all eggs produced in the U.S. are used for retail sale, with the remainder used in foodservice and processing

Statistic 34

The U.S. egg industry produces approximately 18 billion eggs annually in California alone, one of the leading states

Statistic 35

Egg farming in the U.S. accounts for approximately 1.5% of total agricultural land used

Statistic 36

During the 2022 avian influenza outbreak, approximately 58 million hens were depopulated or exterminated in the U.S.

Statistic 37

The world’s largest egg-producing country, China, accounts for about 23% of global egg production

Statistic 38

The average egg production per hen in the U.S. has increased to about 280 eggs annually in 2022, compared to 250 in 2010

Statistic 39

The percentage of eggs used for liquid egg products in the U.S. has risen to approximately 30%, reflecting increasing demand for convenience foods

Statistic 40

Despite reports of avian influenza, the U.S. egg industry has recovered with a 10% increase in production in late 2023

Statistic 41

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region for egg consumption, with an estimated CAGR of 4.2% through 2030

Statistic 42

The global demand for organic eggs is growing at a faster rate than conventional eggs, with organic products capturing over 15% of the market share in some regions

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Key Highlights

  • The global egg market was valued at approximately $221.2 billion in 2022
  • The United States produced about 9.2 billion dozen eggs in 2022
  • The per capita egg consumption in the U.S. was approximately 279 eggs in 2022
  • Approximately 66 million laying hens are kept in the U.S.
  • Asia accounts for over 60% of global egg production
  • China is the leading egg producer, producing about 600 billion eggs annually
  • The average size of a hen house is around 20,000 hens in many commercial operations
  • Egg prices in the U.S. increased by over 50% during the 2022 avian influenza outbreak
  • The European Union produced approximately 7.5 million metric tons of eggs in 2022
  • About 75% of eggs globally are produced under conventional caging systems
  • Organic egg production accounts for less than 1% of global egg output
  • The U.S. egg industry employs over 100,000 workers directly
  • The average hen consumes approximately 0.15 pounds of feed per day

From a $221 billion global powerhouse to innovative shifts toward cage-free and organic options, the egg industry is cracking open a fascinating world of growth, challenges, and changing consumer demands shaping the future of this breakfast staple.

Industry Size

  • Approximately 66 million laying hens are kept in the U.S.

Industry Size Interpretation

With approximately 66 million laying hens on American farms, the egg industry not only supplies breakfast tables nationwide but also raises critical questions about animal welfare and sustainable farming practices.

Market Valuation and Industry Size

  • The global egg market was valued at approximately $221.2 billion in 2022
  • The meat and egg industry in the U.S. contributed about $7 billion to the economy in 2022
  • The global egg shell market was valued at around $4 billion in 2022
  • Approximately 80% of eggs in the U.S. are sold via supermarkets and grocery stores
  • The global organic egg market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8% between 2023 and 2030

Market Valuation and Industry Size Interpretation

With a $221.2 billion global valuation and an 8% CAGR for organic eggs, the industry is cracking open new markets—and perhaps even a few shell-shocked investors—while grocery stores serve as the breeder grounds for America's most popular breakfast staple.

Pricing Trends and Market Economics

  • Egg prices in the U.S. increased by over 50% during the 2022 avian influenza outbreak
  • In 2022, the average wholesale egg price in the U.S. was about $2.50 per dozen
  • The average cost to produce a dozen eggs in the U.S. was approximately $1.00 in 2022, including feed, labor, and overhead

Pricing Trends and Market Economics Interpretation

Despite the relatively modest production cost of $1.00 per dozen, the 2022 avian influenza outbreak’s dramatic 50% price surge to $2.50 reveals how viral outbreaks can turn the poultry market into a shell of economic stability.

Production Methods and Animal Welfare

  • About 75% of eggs globally are produced under conventional caging systems
  • The mortality rate of hens in commercial operations is usually less than 5%, with biosecurity measures improving survival
  • The number of free-range hens in the U.S. increased by 20% between 2018 and 2022
  • The average lifespan of a commercial hen is approximately 72 weeks, but commercial mills often cull hens earlier
  • The incidence of Salmonella in eggs has declined by over 85% since the implementation of stricter safety standards in 2010
  • The majority of laying hens are housed in battery cages or cage-free systems in urbanized regions
  • The use of LED lighting in hen houses can increase egg production efficiency by up to 10%
  • The percentage of cage-free eggs in U.S. retail markets increased from 12% in 2018 to 30% in 2022
  • Approximately 70% of U.S. egg producers have adopted cage-free practices as of 2023, a significant increase from previous years

Production Methods and Animal Welfare Interpretation

While nearly three-quarters of the world's eggs still come from conventional cages, rising consumer demand and improved safety standards have nudged U.S. producers toward more humane and efficient practices like cage-free systems—highlighting a paradox where progress in animal welfare and productivity go hand in hand, even if the lifespan of hens remains curtailed by industry priorities.

Production Volumes and Capita Consumption

  • The United States produced about 9.2 billion dozen eggs in 2022
  • The per capita egg consumption in the U.S. was approximately 279 eggs in 2022
  • Asia accounts for over 60% of global egg production
  • China is the leading egg producer, producing about 600 billion eggs annually
  • The average size of a hen house is around 20,000 hens in many commercial operations
  • The European Union produced approximately 7.5 million metric tons of eggs in 2022
  • Organic egg production accounts for less than 1% of global egg output
  • The U.S. egg industry employs over 100,000 workers directly
  • The average hen consumes approximately 0.15 pounds of feed per day
  • About 5-7% of all eggs produced are broken during processing and packaging
  • The global demand for eggs is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3% until 2030
  • The U.S. imported approximately 200 million dozens of eggs annually, mainly from neighboring countries
  • Shell eggs account for roughly 85% of all eggs produced globally
  • The carbon footprint of producing one dozen eggs is approximately 4.5 pounds of CO2 equivalent
  • Approximately 50% of all eggs produced in the U.S. are used for retail sale, with the remainder used in foodservice and processing
  • The U.S. egg industry produces approximately 18 billion eggs annually in California alone, one of the leading states
  • Egg farming in the U.S. accounts for approximately 1.5% of total agricultural land used
  • During the 2022 avian influenza outbreak, approximately 58 million hens were depopulated or exterminated in the U.S.
  • The world’s largest egg-producing country, China, accounts for about 23% of global egg production
  • The average egg production per hen in the U.S. has increased to about 280 eggs annually in 2022, compared to 250 in 2010
  • The percentage of eggs used for liquid egg products in the U.S. has risen to approximately 30%, reflecting increasing demand for convenience foods
  • Despite reports of avian influenza, the U.S. egg industry has recovered with a 10% increase in production in late 2023

Production Volumes and Capita Consumption Interpretation

With over 9.2 billion dozen eggs laid annually and China's commanding 60% share, the U.S. consuming nearly 280 eggs per person while balancing concerns over environmental impact and resilience amid avian flu, the global egg industry is incubating both opportunity and intensity in a delicate shell of economics and ethics.

Regional Markets and Emerging Trends

  • Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region for egg consumption, with an estimated CAGR of 4.2% through 2030
  • The global demand for organic eggs is growing at a faster rate than conventional eggs, with organic products capturing over 15% of the market share in some regions

Regional Markets and Emerging Trends Interpretation

As Asia-Pacific rapidly scrambles to meet a 4.2% annual egg demand rise, the organic segment's swift hatch into over 15% of some markets signals that consumers are increasingly cracking open to healthier, more ethical options—making the egg industry not just sunny-side up, but ethically aligned.