China’s 7.48 Million Ride-Hailing Drivers Cry: “Fighting Over Sh!t—Grab It or Starve!”

By July 2026, China had more than 7.48 million licensed ride-hailing drivers and 402 platforms. Their numbers were growing faster than demand. Beijing had about 580,000 gig workers in ride-hailing and food delivery: 250,000 delivery workers and 330,000 drivers. In Guangzhou, average daily active drivers rose from more than 70,000 in January 2025 to over 100,000 in January 2026, an increase of nearly 30,000 in a year. Driver numbers have outpaced demand for rides. The industry, sometimes called a refuge for middle-aged men, is getting increasingly crowded. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT2kPBcD6tXn8TP_aV7BmgA/join #chinaobserver All rights reserved. ⭐You can support us at: https://donorbox.org/china-observer-supporting-independent-news ⭐For business cooperation, please contact us: [email protected]