Chickens in New Zealand
New Zealand had 24.6 million chickens in 2024, the 85th largest in the world (0.09% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 21%. The record was 25.7 million head in 2021.
- Animals, 2024
- 24.6 million head
- World rank
- 85 of 179
- 10-year change
- +21%
- Record
- 25.7 million head
- 2021
Chickens in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (head)
New Zealand compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.09%
- 0.10% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +21%
- world +31%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | United Arab Emirates | 26,388,000 | 0.10% |
| 84 | Czechia | 24,917,000 | 0.09% |
| 85 | New Zealand | 24,574,000 | 0.09% |
| 86 | Costa Rica | 23,865,000 | 0.09% |
| 87 | Turkmenistan | 21,489,000 | 0.08% |
Map of chickens numbers by country
Share of the world total; New Zealand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,574,000 | −2.8% |
| 2023 | 25,274,000 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 24,756,000 | −3.6% |
| 2021 | 25,675,000 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 24,849,000 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 24,721,000 | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 24,162,000 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 23,763,000 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 22,744,000 | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 21,135,000 | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 20,278,000 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 19,094,000 | −0.0% |
| 2012 | 19,097,000 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 18,622,000 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 18,525,000 | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 18,065,000 | −8.5% |
| 2008 | 19,733,000 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 19,660,000 | +14% |
| 2006 | 17,243,000 | −9.5% |
| 2005 | 19,056,000 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 18,677,000 | −7.4% |
| 2003 | 20,166,000 | −3.5% |
| 2002 | 20,908,000 | +61% |
| 2001 | 13,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 2000 | 13,000,000 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 12,700,000 | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 12,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1997 | 12,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1996 | 12,000,000 | −5.5% |
| 1995 | 12,700,000 | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 12,000,000 | +21% |
| 1993 | 9,900,000 | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 9,600,000 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 9,500,000 | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 9,000,000 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 8,700,000 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 8,594,000 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 8,480,000 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 8,200,000 | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 8,000,000 | +9.0% |
| 1984 | 7,339,000 | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 6,987,000 | −6.7% |
| 1982 | 7,491,000 | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 7,233,000 | +13% |
| 1980 | 6,424,000 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 6,416,000 | −12% |
| 1978 | 7,266,000 | −4.3% |
| 1977 | 7,591,000 | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 7,105,000 | −0.5% |
| 1975 | 7,139,000 | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 6,632,000 | +12% |
| 1973 | 5,941,000 | +37% |
| 1972 | 4,350,000 | −9.4% |
| 1971 | 4,800,000 | −4.0% |
| 1970 | 5,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1969 | 5,000,000 | −4.8% |
| 1968 | 5,250,000 | +6.1% |
| 1967 | 4,947,000 | −6.6% |
| 1966 | 5,296,000 | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 5,000,000 | +11% |
| 1964 | 4,500,000 | +4.7% |
| 1963 | 4,300,000 | −4.4% |
| 1962 | 4,500,000 | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 4,184,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many chickens are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand had 24.6 million chickens in 2024, 0.09% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does New Zealand rank in the world by number of chickens?
New Zealand ranked 85th of 179 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 18.9% of the world total.
How has the number of chickens in New Zealand changed?
It rose by 21% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +31% for the world. The record was 25.7 million head in 2021.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 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.