Industry Stats and Facts

One page summary of key facts about the broiler chicken industry. Updated annually.

Americans buy more chicken than any other food at the center of the plate. Chicken consumption per capita has increased nearly every year since the mid 1960’s, while red meat consumption has steadily declined.

Chicken has more than 10 essential nutrients that benefit eaters of all ages.

Chicken provides as much as 31 grams of high-quality, complete protein per serving.

In terms of market age, market weight, feed-to-meat gain, and mortality rate, today’s broiler is highly efficient.

Exports are big business for broiler companies. The following data shows the increasing percentage of broiler production exported to trade partners around the globe since 1960.

Broilers are chicken raised for their meat. This chart depicts the continual increase in US broiler production on an annual basis since 1950 in millions of pounds ready-to-cook.

About twenty states produce significant amounts of broilers. Here’s a list with the latest available data.

Consumers rate chicken’s value very highly, especially when compared with competing meats.

Over 60 years of data detailing how broilers are marketed in the US.

In 2020, the US chicken industry produced about 60 billion pounds of liveweight chicken