The number of pigs in the Netherlands has fallen below 10 million for the first time since 1979. According to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), on April 1, 2025, the number of pigs fell to 9.96 million, a decrease of 5.1% from 2024.
The Netherlands is one of the world's major pork producers and exporters, but in recent years, the government has taken a series of measures to restrict the development of animal husbandry in response to environmental issues, especially the impact of nitrogen emissions on ecosystems. EU and local environmental regulations in the Netherlands require significant reductions in nitrogen emissions, which has prompted the government to launch a buyout program to encourage pig farmers to close farms or reduce the scale of pig farming. These policies have a particularly significant impact on small and medium-sized pig farms, which often lack the funds and technology to adapt to new environmental requirements.
In 2025, the number of pig farms decreased by 7.1% to only 1,900, of which small pig farms (less than 500 pigs) decreased by 10.9% and medium-sized pig farms (2,000 to 5,000 pigs) decreased by 10.4%. Over the past decade, the number of pig farms in the Netherlands has almost halved, while the average number of pigs per farm has increased by 50% to 5,000. Despite the decline in pig numbers, pork remains the most popular meat in the Netherlands and continues to be a major export product.
The decline in the number of pigs in the Netherlands reflects a common challenge facing the livestock industry worldwide: how to find a balance between environmental protection and food security. The government may continue to promote green agricultural transformation through subsidies and technical support, such as promoting low-emission farming techniques or encouraging the development of alternative protein industries. At the same time, consumer demand for sustainable food may further reshape the agricultural landscape in the Netherlands. In the coming years, the pig industry in the Netherlands may continue to develop in an efficient and environmentally friendly direction, but the livelihood issues of small and medium-sized farmers still need more attention and policy support.
The Netherlands is one of the world's major pork producers and exporters, but in recent years, the government has taken a series of measures to restrict the development of animal husbandry in response to environmental issues, especially the impact of nitrogen emissions on ecosystems. EU and local environmental regulations in the Netherlands require significant reductions in nitrogen emissions, which has prompted the government to launch a buyout program to encourage pig farmers to close farms or reduce the scale of pig farming. These policies have a particularly significant impact on small and medium-sized pig farms, which often lack the funds and technology to adapt to new environmental requirements.
In 2025, the number of pig farms decreased by 7.1% to only 1,900, of which small pig farms (less than 500 pigs) decreased by 10.9% and medium-sized pig farms (2,000 to 5,000 pigs) decreased by 10.4%. Over the past decade, the number of pig farms in the Netherlands has almost halved, while the average number of pigs per farm has increased by 50% to 5,000. Despite the decline in pig numbers, pork remains the most popular meat in the Netherlands and continues to be a major export product.
The decline in the number of pigs in the Netherlands reflects a common challenge facing the livestock industry worldwide: how to find a balance between environmental protection and food security. The government may continue to promote green agricultural transformation through subsidies and technical support, such as promoting low-emission farming techniques or encouraging the development of alternative protein industries. At the same time, consumer demand for sustainable food may further reshape the agricultural landscape in the Netherlands. In the coming years, the pig industry in the Netherlands may continue to develop in an efficient and environmentally friendly direction, but the livelihood issues of small and medium-sized farmers still need more attention and policy support.