Facts & Stats

U.S. egg production and consumption continues to rise, as measured by the federal government and industry sources.

U.S. Egg Production and Hen Population

U.S. table egg production totaled 93.1 billion in 2024, down one percent from 2023. The U.S. had 311 million commercial laying hens at the end of 2024, down 3% from 2023. The daily rate of lay averaged 82.5 eggs per 100 table egg layers in 2024, up 1% from 2023. On average, each laying hen produces 301 eggs per year. 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.

U.S. Egg Consumption

Per capita consumption of eggs has increased 15% in the past 20 years. Per capita consumption is a measure of total egg production, less exports, divided by the total U.S. population. It does not represent demand. The decrease in estimated per capita consumption in 2022 can be attributed to decreased production due to COVID-19 related issues.

U.S. Egg Production by State

Egg production is a significant contributor to the economy and employment in several states. The five largest shell egg-producing states are home to approximately 45.4% of all laying hens in the U.S., and the top 10 states comprise 66.2% of egg production. Click here for more on the local economic impact of eggs.

Housing Environments of U.S. Laying Hens

The number of hens housed in conventional cage environments is decreasing as some egg producers and retailers, food service providers and food manufacturers transition to cage-free eggs. At the end of 2024, 38.7% of all hens were in cage-free production, up 25% from 2016 and 34% from 2010. According to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, approximately 76% of U.S. hens must be in cage-free production by 2026 to meet projected demand.

As of February 2025, organic and cage-free shell egg production accounted for 42.1% (122.6 million hens) of the current table egg layer flock. Of this, 7.0% are organic (20.5 million hens) and 35.0% are non-organic cage-free (102.2 million hens).

Utilization of U.S. Eggs

Of the 258 million cases of eggs produced in 2024, well over half were sold as shell eggs through retail outlets, about 29% were processed into egg products, nearly 12.0% were sold through foodservice, and 2% were exported. The vast majority of U.S. egg production is consumed domestically, with only 5.5 million cases of shell eggs exported in 2024.