Chickens in United Kingdom
United Kingdom had 167 million chickens in 2024, the 33rd largest in the world (0.60% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 5.0%. The record was 180 million head in 2021.
- Animals, 2024
- 167 million head
- World rank
- 33 of 179
- 10-year change
- +5.0%
- Record
- 180 million head
- 2021
Chickens in United Kingdom, 1961–2024 (head)
United Kingdom compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.60%
- 0.75% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +5.0%
- world +31%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ukraine | 173,725,000 | 0.63% |
| 32 | Canada | 173,164,000 | 0.63% |
| 33 | United Kingdom | 166,986,000 | 0.60% |
| 34 | Côte d'Ivoire | 143,483,000 | 0.52% |
| 35 | Iraq | 140,000,000 | 0.51% |
Map of chickens numbers by country
Share of the world total; United Kingdom is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 166,986,000 | −1.9% |
| 2023 | 170,233,000 | −2.3% |
| 2022 | 174,193,000 | −3.2% |
| 2021 | 180,000,000 | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 172,000,000 | −2.3% |
| 2019 | 176,000,000 | −1.1% |
| 2018 | 178,000,000 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 171,000,000 | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 161,000,000 | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 157,000,000 | −1.3% |
| 2014 | 159,000,000 | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 152,000,000 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 149,000,000 | −1.3% |
| 2011 | 151,000,000 | −0.7% |
| 2010 | 152,000,000 | −4.6% |
| 2009 | 159,288,000 | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 154,180,000 | −2.1% |
| 2007 | 157,513,000 | −0.4% |
| 2006 | 158,202,000 | −1.4% |
| 2005 | 160,528,000 | −3.3% |
| 2004 | 165,931,000 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 165,324,000 | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 155,005,000 | −5.4% |
| 2001 | 163,876,000 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 154,504,000 | +10% |
| 1999 | 140,300,000 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 137,750,000 | −8.4% |
| 1997 | 150,400,000 | +25% |
| 1996 | 120,300,000 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 119,500,000 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 118,800,000 | −3.3% |
| 1993 | 122,900,000 | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 116,300,000 | −8.6% |
| 1991 | 127,241,000 | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 124,636,000 | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 120,351,000 | −6.0% |
| 1988 | 127,984,000 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 126,840,000 | +13% |
| 1986 | 111,782,000 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 110,315,000 | −0.7% |
| 1984 | 111,144,000 | −1.0% |
| 1983 | 112,234,000 | −2.3% |
| 1982 | 114,862,000 | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 109,900,000 | −5.3% |
| 1980 | 116,000,000 | −4.9% |
| 1979 | 122,000,000 | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 120,100,000 | −3.1% |
| 1977 | 123,900,000 | −8.2% |
| 1976 | 134,917,000 | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 130,471,000 | −1.4% |
| 1974 | 132,258,000 | −2.9% |
| 1973 | 136,164,000 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 133,458,000 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 133,168,000 | −3.1% |
| 1970 | 137,444,000 | +14% |
| 1969 | 120,849,000 | −0.9% |
| 1968 | 121,971,000 | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 120,401,000 | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 113,754,000 | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 112,348,000 | −0.7% |
| 1964 | 113,162,000 | +5.7% |
| 1963 | 107,076,000 | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 104,288,000 | −4.0% |
| 1961 | 108,646,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many chickens are there in United Kingdom?
United Kingdom had 167 million chickens in 2024, 0.60% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does United Kingdom rank in the world by number of chickens?
United Kingdom ranked 33rd 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 United Kingdom changed?
It rose by 5.0% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +31% for the world. The record was 180 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.