How Big is the US Poultry Industry? US Chicken Industry Stats
Updated September 2025
With more than 514 million chickens on U.S. farms (excl. commercial broilers) as of December 1, 2024, and a rebound in chicken consumption in 2025, the U.S. poultry industry remains a powerhouse. USDA Downloads
At Carlisle Technology, we love data and actionable insight. Below is a concise, source-backed snapshot you can rely on for 2025 planning.
U.S. Poultry Industry: 2025 at a glance
- Sector value (2024): $70.2B across broilers, eggs, turkeys, and other chicken. Economic Research Service
- Broiler (chicken) production: 46.99 billion lbs R-T-C in 2024; 47.76 billion lbs R-T-C projected for 2025 (+1.6% YoY). Per-capita chicken disappearance: 101.1 lbs (2024) 102.7 lbs (2025F). Broiler exports 2025F: 6.48 billion lbs (Mexico remains the #1 outlet). Economic Research Service
- Eggs: 2024 egg output totaled 109.0B eggs; 2025 table-egg production projected at 7.315B dozen as flocks remain below average after HPAI. USDA DownloadsEconomic Research Service
- Turkeys: 200M turkeys raised in 2024 (-8% YoY); 6.58B lbs produced in 2024 (live-weight). 2025 turkey production projected at 4.79B lbs R-T-C with exports at 412M lbs; Mexico is historically the largest buyer. USDA Downloads Economic Research Service Economic Research Service
- Top broiler state: Georgia leads by head produced; Alabama and Arkansas follow. NASS
What type of chicken sells most in the U.S.?
At retail, boneless skinless breast remains the most prominently featured cut nationally, and consumer polling continues to name breast as the favorite cut (wings rank #2). Dark-meat thighs have gained share the last few years, but breast still leads in preference. AMS National Chicken Council The Atlantic
Who is the top chicken producer in the United States?
By ready-to-cook output, Tyson Foods remains the largest U.S. broiler company, followed by Pilgrim’s and Wayne-Sanderson Farms. National Chicken Council
How many chicken processing plants are there?
USDA NASS gathers monthly poultry slaughter data from approximately 320 federally-inspected poultry slaughter plants. (Processing-only facilities are separate and more numerous; the oft-quoted “2,979” figure is not an accurate count of slaughter establishments.)
Which U.S. state produces the most chickens?
Georgia leads the nation in broiler production by head, with Alabama and Arkansas close behind. NASS
How much turkey does the U.S. export and to whom?
ERS projects 2025 turkey exports at ~412M lbs, after 486M lbs in 2024. Mexico is the dominant destination in most years, often taking the majority of U.S. shipments. Economic Research Service Economic Research Service
What’s the top-selling chicken type in the US?
Chicken breast is the number one selling chicken type in the US.
What’s the top-selling turkey cut type in the United States?
Ground turkey is the most preferred turkey cut type in the US.
How many Chicken Processing Plants are there in the United States?
There are 2,979 federally inspected chicken processing plants in the U.S.
What state in the US produces the most chickens?
According to official numbers by the United States Department of Agriculture, Alabama produces the most chicken with a total production of over 6 million pounds. Arkansas is the second largest producer of chicken in the United States and Delaware is the third on the list.
Market context: demand, prices, and disease impacts
- Chicken demand: U.S. per-capita chicken consumption is projected to set another record in 2025 (102.7 lbs) as broiler production ticks higher and prices remain competitive vs. red meat. Economic Research Service
- Eggs: Flock rebuilding after HPAI has been bumpy; 2025 table-egg output is projected down ~5.4% YoY and prices ran hot in Q1–Q2 2025. Economic Research Service Farm Bureau
- Turkeys: Lower hatch/placements and disease headwinds (HPAI, aMPV) cut 2024 output; 2025 R-T-C production is projected slightly lower before a recovery outlook in 2026. Economic Research Service
Global perspective
USDA FAS projects global chicken (broiler) production ~105.8 MMT in 2025. The U.S. stays #1 producer (≈21.7 MMT), with Brazil and China next. U.S. broiler exports are seen near 3.0 MMT.
How can Carlisle help?
Whether you’re expanding a poultry operation or modernizing traceability, Carlisle Technology pairs plant-floor hardware with Symphony software, MES, WMS & Distribution, ERP integration, weighing & labeling, and end-to-end traceability, built for North American processors. Talk to us about reducing giveaway, speeding QA holds, and tightening recall readiness.
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