Every 100 kcal of egg yolk brings 4.9 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 19th of the 20 eggs in this database and 477th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 15.9 g per 100 g ranks 3rd in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in egg yolk come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
By weight, fat outweighs protein in egg yolk: 26.5 g of fat per 100 g against 15.9 g of protein, a ratio of 0.6 to 1.
Set against cooked egg white, another egg entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.8 g less protein (cooked egg white has 3.5 g per 1 large).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving quoted here is counted by piece at 17 g, and it covers about 5% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
The yolk carries most of an egg's fat and micronutrients but less than half its protein.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of egg yolk
Protein and calories in Egg yolk for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
15.9 g
322 kcal
1 large (serving used here)
17 g
2.7 g
55 kcal
1 cup
243 g
38.6 g
782 kcal
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in egg yolk
The nine essential amino acids in Egg yolk, per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
1.4 g
0.24 g
88
lysine
1.22 g
0.21 g
77
valine
0.949 g
0.16 g
60
isoleucine
0.866 g
0.15 g
54
threonine
0.687 g
0.12 g
43
phenylalanine
0.681 g
0.12 g
43
methionine
0.378 g
0.06 g
24
histidine
0.416 g
0.07 g
26
tryptophan
0.177 g
0.03 g
11
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
SampleWhat goal trends look like after a week
109 g
Average per logged day
4 of 7
Days goal met
71%
Complete-protein share
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Sample figures for one made-up week against a 110 g goal, not your data. Red bars met the goal. Your own log fills this in with Premium.
15.9 g. The 1 large serving used on this page weighs 17 g and so carries 2.7 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of egg yolk?
4.9 g. That figure divides its 15.9 g of protein per 100 g by its 322 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in egg yolk complete?
Yes. The protein in egg yolk supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of egg yolk?
About 5%. One 1 large serving has 2.7 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #172184 (Egg, yolk, raw, fresh), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.