Chickens in China
China had 5.24 billion chickens in 2024, the largest total in the world (18.9% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 16%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 5.24 billion head
- World rank
- 1 of 179
- 10-year change
- +16%
- Record
- 5.24 billion head
- 2024
Chickens in China, 1961–2024 (head)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 18.9%
- 21.5% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +16%
- world +31%
Position in the world ranking
Map of chickens numbers by country
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,243,707,000 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 5,219,059,000 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 5,194,411,000 | −0.4% |
| 2021 | 5,212,725,000 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 5,200,676,000 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 5,178,077,000 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 5,128,792,000 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 5,032,945,000 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 4,878,071,000 | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 4,695,496,000 | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 4,539,500,000 | −4.3% |
| 2013 | 4,741,500,000 | −1.6% |
| 2012 | 4,817,670,000 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 4,610,000,000 | −11% |
| 2010 | 5,200,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 5,120,000,000 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 4,925,000,000 | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 4,600,000,000 | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 4,345,000,000 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 4,335,000,000 | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 4,100,000,000 | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 3,860,000,000 | −3.0% |
| 2002 | 3,980,000,000 | +9.0% |
| 2001 | 3,650,000,000 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 3,500,000,000 | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 3,300,000,000 | +10% |
| 1998 | 3,000,000,000 | −22% |
| 1997 | 3,870,000,000 | +15% |
| 1996 | 3,369,000,000 | +11% |
| 1995 | 3,035,680,000 | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 2,900,000,000 | +12% |
| 1993 | 2,600,000,000 | +11% |
| 1992 | 2,350,000,000 | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 2,223,000,000 | +11% |
| 1990 | 2,000,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 1,900,000,000 | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 1,775,000,000 | +13% |
| 1987 | 1,570,000,000 | +15% |
| 1986 | 1,370,000,000 | +14% |
| 1985 | 1,200,000,000 | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 1,120,000,000 | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1,060,000,000 | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 980,000,000 | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 920,000,000 | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 875,000,000 | +8.7% |
| 1979 | 805,000,000 | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 779,000,000 | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 743,000,000 | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 729,000,000 | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 686,000,000 | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 682,000,000 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 657,000,000 | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 651,000,000 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 630,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 620,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 610,000,000 | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 600,000,000 | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 594,000,000 | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 587,000,000 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 580,000,000 | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 576,000,000 | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 560,000,000 | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 543,000,000 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 530,000,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many chickens are there in China?
China had 5.24 billion chickens in 2024, 18.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world by number of chickens?
China was the world’s largest herd in 2024, ahead of Indonesia.
How has the number of chickens in China changed?
It rose by 16% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +31% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.