Facts & Stats

U.S. egg production and consumption continues to rise, as measured by the federal government and industry sources.
A line graph titled 'U.S. Laying Rate Since 2004' with a subhead '(Eggs Per Year)' and a footnote defining it as 'Eggs produced per laying hen, per year.' The vertical axis tracks the number of eggs from 250 to 305, and the horizontal axis tracks years from 2004 to 2024. The graph shows a steady upward trend over the two decades, highlighting three specific data points in red text: 266 eggs in 2004, 286 eggs in 2014, and peaking at 301 eggs in 2024. The source is cited as Egg Industry Center 2025 & USDA NASS, copyrighted by United Egg Producers.

U.S. Egg Production and Hen Population

U.S. table egg production totaled 90.1 billion eggs in 2025, down 3.2 percent from 2024. The U.S. had 310 million commercial laying hens at the end of 2025, nearly static from the year before. On average, each laying hen produced 300 eggs in 2025. The increased productivity of hens – due to improved health and disease prevention, nutrition, genetics, and flock management – is demonstrated in the graph to the right.

Source: Egg Industry Center and USDA NASS Chickens and Eggs Report

A line graph titled 'U.S. Per Capita Egg Consumption Since 2003.' The vertical axis measures egg consumption from 245 to 295, and the horizontal axis tracks the years from 2003 to 2024. The graph illustrates shifting consumption trends over two decades, calling out three key milestones in red text: 255 eggs in 2004, 260 eggs in 2014, and an estimated 273 eggs in 2024. The data shows a notable dip in 2015–2016 and a peak around 2020 before a steady decline. A footnote states '*Estimate. Reduced egg supply in 2015 due to Avian Influenza.' Source cited as 2024 USDA AMS, copyrighted by United Egg Producers.

U.S. Egg Consumption

U.S. per capita egg consumption has increased steadily since 2003. Per capita consumption is calculated using total egg production, less exports, divided by the total U.S. population. It does not represent demand. Declines in recent years reflect production challenges related to highly pathogenic avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, and other supply disruptions.

Source: Egg Industry Center and USDA ERS U.S. red meat and poultry forecasts

An infographic titled 'Top States for Egg Production' with the subtitle 'Ranked By Number of Laying Hens.' The image features a map of the United States with ten states highlighted in gray and numbered from 1 to 10. To the right, a text list details the 'U.S. Top 10' ranking: 1. Iowa, 2. Ohio, 3. Indiana, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. Texas, 6. Georgia, 7. North Carolina, 8. Arkansas, 9. Missouri, and 10. Michigan. The source is cited as 2024 USDA NASS, copyrighted by United Egg Producers.

U.S. Egg Production by State

Egg production is a significant contributor to the economy and employment in several states. Click here for more on the local economic impact of eggs.

Source: USDA NASS Chicken and Eggs Report and Egg Industry Center

An infographic titled 'U.S. Layer Population By Management' displaying data on how laying hens are housed. The chart shows that 38.7% (120.3 million laying hens) are total cage-free, which is further broken down into 6.7% Organic (20.3 million laying hens) and 32.8% Cage-Free (99.9 million laying hens). The remaining 60.5% (184 million laying hens) are classified as Conventional. A grid of egg icons visually represents these proportions using red, dark blue, and light gray colors. A footnote states 'Organic standards require cage-free housing.' Source cited as December 2024 USDA NASS, copyrighted by United Egg Producers.

Housing Environments of U.S. Laying Hens

America’s egg farmers are committed to providing the eggs their customers and consumers want. The assortment of eggs in the grocery case reflects true consumer preference and demand. In 2025, 47% of the total U.S. flock was in cage-free production, a significant increase from less than 5 percent in 2010.

Different hen-housing methods have different benefits, but they all have one thing in common: food safety and the health of the flock are top priorities.

Source: USDA Egg Markets Overview

An infographic titled 'Utilization of Eggs Produced in the U.S.' featuring a pie chart that breaks down egg usage into four categories. The categories are: Retail Shell Eggs at 57.1% (147.5 million cases), Further Processing at 28.8% (74.3 million cases), Food Service Shell Eggs at 11.9% (30.7 million cases), and Exports at 2.1% (5.5 million cases). A note at the bottom defines a case as 30 dozen eggs. Source cited as 2024 USDA AMS, copyrighted by United Egg Producers.

Utilization of U.S. Eggs

In 2025, over half of the eggs produced were sold as shell eggs through retail outlets, about 31% were processed into egg products, nearly 12% were sold through foodservice and less than 2% were exported.

Source: USDA AMS L&P Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News and Egg Industry Center