Chicken has become the most popular meat in the world after decades of rapid production growth, the Financial Times reported.
The Financial Times, a British business newspaper based in London, found that global production growth has accelerated over the past three to four years. Industry analysts noted that it is now difficult to find any domestic market anywhere in the world where chicken consumption is falling.
The global chicken population expanded dramatically over the past two decades. Official statistics show that the worldwide flock grew from 48.3 billion birds in 2006 to 76.2 billion birds in 2023.
For most of the twentieth century, chicken was an expensive product accessible only to a wealthy minority. Beef held a higher social status among consumers, while pork dominated international production volumes. Farmers across the world raised chickens primarily for egg production rather than for meat.
Conditions shifted as agricultural science advanced. Selective breeding, the practice of breeding animals for specific desirable traits, allowed farmers to improve growth rates and carcass shape. Shorter production cycles and automated farming methods reduced operational costs, driving down retail prices for consumers.
Industrial farming and global trade
The United States, the world's largest economy, initially developed the modern industrial model for poultry production in the mid-twentieth century. Although American producers pioneered large-scale commercial poultry operations, the country no longer dominates global production on its own.
Brazil has emerged as the world's leading exporter of chicken meat. The South American nation exported approximately 4.9 million tonnes of chicken meat in 2024, representing a substantial increase from the roughly 910,000 tonnes it shipped to international buyers in 2000.
Driven by rising output across South America and Asia, chicken meat officially surpassed pork in global production volume in 2022. The transition marked the first time in modern history that poultry became the most produced meat worldwide.
Drivers of rising global demand
Consumer demand for poultry continues to rise in both high-income countries and emerging markets. Elevated global beef prices have prompted many households to choose chicken as a more affordable protein alternative.
The expansion of global fast food restaurant chains and the popularity of high-protein dietary trends have further accelerated demand. Furthermore, chicken faces few cultural or dietary restrictions, making it acceptable across virtually every cuisine, major religion, and income bracket.
Global chicken production expanded at an annual rate of 2 to 2.5 percent over the past two decades. That growth rate increased over the last three to four years, accelerating to more than 3 percent annually.
Production figures in Russia
In Russia, total poultry meat production reached 1.63 million tonnes during the first quarter of 2026. According to official figures, domestic output fell by 2.7 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
