In recent decades, poultry farming has become the most dynamic and widespread livestock production in the world. Chickens, the industry’s mainstay, have grown far beyond traditional backyard farming to become the primary source of animal protein for billions of people. Experts Club analysts examined global changes in chicken farming between 1990 and 2023, documenting unprecedented growth and structural transformation of the industry.
“Poultry farming has become a symbol of the new consumer economy: fast production, low production costs, adaptability to global demand. That is why chicken is displacing other types of meat all over the world,” said Maxim Urakin, PhD in Economics and founder of the Experts Club information and analytical centre.
In the early 1990s, the total number of chickens in the world was estimated at 10 billion (in terms of thousands of heads). This figure already then exceeded the number of any other type of farm animals. However, the real leap occurred between 2000 and 2020. By 2023, the total number of chickens in the world exceeded 29 billion, almost tripling in three decades. This means there are approximately 3.6 chickens for every person on the planet, when you consider the total world population of more than 8 billion people.
This explosive growth is due to several key factors. First and foremost is economic efficiency. Chicken is the cheapest meat to produce, requiring significantly less feed, water and time to raise than pork or beef. With global urbanisation, rising incomes and changing eating habits, chicken has become a “universal” product: it is consumed as much in the United States as in Brazil, India, Indonesia or Egypt.
In addition to economics, religious and cultural factors are equally important. Unlike pork or beef, which are restricted in consumption due to religious prohibitions in Islam, Judaism or Hinduism, chicken is acceptable in almost all traditions. This makes it a globally versatile source of protein. “Chicken is a compromise protein. It is acceptable everywhere, inexpensive, quick to eat, and that is why it has become the standard of the 21st century,” emphasised Uraqin.
Technical innovation plays an equally important role. From the 1990s to the 2020s, the poultry industry underwent a technological revolution: automated hatcheries, genetically enhanced broilers, controlled rearing conditions, biosecurity and strict quality monitoring became the norm in major agricultural countries. This has significantly increased the productivity of the industry. On average, the cycle of growing a broiler to marketable size has been reduced from 70 days to 42 days.
Geographically, China, the United States, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Russia have become the most powerful chicken producers. At the same time, countries in Africa are experiencing intensive growth in domestic production, oriented both towards food security and reducing dependence on imports.
However, the dynamics of population growth also bring risks. The increasing density of chickens creates an increased epidemiological burden, especially in the form of outbreaks of avian influenza. In addition, critics point to animal welfare problems, excessive antibiotic concentrations and methane emissions from poultry farms.
“Modern poultry farming has to find a balance between productivity and the ethical requirements of society. This is a new challenge that the industry has not known before,” said Maxim urakin.
In the coming years, chicken consumption is expected to grow further, particularly in low-income countries, and exports from Brazil, Thailand and Ukraine are expected to expand. However, alternative proteins – plant and cell-based products – that are already entering the markets may increasingly compete with poultry production.