In China, there is a growing number of female delivery riders. The official Chinese media refers to them as “achieving economic independence”, but fails to mention the hardships behind this statement.
According to data from the Meituan Research Institute, the number of female delivery riders increased from 517,000 in 2022 to 701,000 in 2024, a growth of 35.6% in just 2 years. During the same period, the total number of Meituan riders increased from 6.24 million to 7.45 million, with female riders growing at a much faster pace compared to the overall figure.
Data from QuestMobile’s “2025 New Blue-Collar Insight Report” released in September this year shows that as of July 2025, women accounted for 24.3% of the 14 million delivery personnel in China, a significant increase from less than 5% before 2020.
It’s not just delivery riders, the number of women driving ride-hailing and courier services is also increasing. Data from Didi shows that in 2023, there were 600,000 female ride-hailing drivers in mainland China, soaring to 1.05 million in 2024, a 75% increase in just one year.
In a report titled “Over 700,000 Female Delivery Riders Gain Economic Independence Through Deliveries,” published by Beijing official media in March, the question arises: have these female riders truly achieved economic independence? More and more women are choosing this high-frequency, physically demanding work – what is the truth behind their decision?
A study on the survival status of female delivery riders conducted by Sun Ping, a researcher at a social science institute, in December 2021 revealed that 85% of interviewed female riders were married, with 96.6% already having children, and 72.8% having underage children to support.
A “supermom” from Jining, Shandong, expressed to a reporter from Dajiyuan on September 24th: “Earning 20 yuan (RMB, below) is enough for me and my child to have a meal. I am content with that. Being able to earn enough for a day’s meal makes me happier, and that’s why I’m doing this for the money.”
Due to lack of childcare, some female riders bring their children along to deliver meals on weekends. If the children are still young, the riders use safety carriers to carry them on their backs.
In July of this year, “Flash News” in mainland China reported that due to a child being diagnosed with a malignant tumor and needing treatment, a couple had to deliver meals. With no one to care for the child at home, they had to bring the child along. Whenever the child needed to be carried, it led to delays in delivering orders. It was especially challenging in places without elevators, where they had to carry the child up and down – until one day, a rider had to place the child in the delivery box in 40-degree outdoor temperatures.
In July this year, as floods hit multiple regions in China, a 24-year-old female delivery personnel, who had just joined the industry for a month, unfortunately drowned in heavy rain in Sichuan, leaving behind her 2-year-old child. This incident sparked a wave of sympathy among netizens.
Many female riders continue delivering meals even after becoming pregnant. A netizen on Zhihu mentioned seeing pregnant women delivering meals multiple times, evoking a sense of bitterness.
Qingping (pseudonym), a pregnant woman in Wuxi, Jiangsu, told a reporter from Dajiyuan that she was delivering meals a while ago: “I delivered meals discreetly from my husband, he was away on business and unaware that I was doing it. I took one order, then another, slowly delivering them around my neighborhood. Either I worked early mornings or after 9 o’clock, avoiding peak hours.”
She mentioned she has stopped delivering now as she is 34 weeks pregnant.
Delivery work is largely seen as a form of “transitional labor.” Many female riders were previously employed in the service or manufacturing industries, with some having held white-collar positions or being business owners before joining the platform.
Yang Qing, a 31-year-old woman from Suzhou, resorted to delivering meals after losing her job, now transitioning to livestreaming but still occasionally does meal deliveries on the side. She mentioned the economic conditions deteriorated since 2023, leading to many job losses in her area, making it challenging to secure employment.
She initially planned to work full-time on deliveries but found it too demanding. She intends to quit after the National Day holiday and search for a more stable job.
The delivery business itself is challenging, especially for newcomers, with many giving up in the early stages.
Dongfang (pseudonym) from a county in Henan stopped delivering after just three days due to low pay relative to the effort required, coupled with various inconveniences such as incorrect addresses.
In Guangzhou, Zhang, a female delivery personnel, explained to reporters that despite participating in promotions that day, she only earned 200 RMB in seven to eight hours of work, especially feeling disappointed during lunchtime peak orders ending at 1 p.m. She then described the struggles of running orders in heavy rain until midnight, emphasizing how difficult it is to earn money.
“It’s not easy at all, it’s all fake talk if someone says it’s not tough or if they’re not working hard now,” mentioned Huang Ying from Hangzhou. She described the delivery industry as competitive but with minimal financial returns, and the riders are undeniably exhausted from the physical and mental toll.
Huang Ying initially earned minimal amounts, sometimes only a few tens of yuan per day when she started delivering in March. She eventually managed to secure higher-paying orders, with one memorable day earning nearly 180 RMB.
Female delivery personnel often earn less than their male counterparts. Research by Sun Ping’s team in June-July 2021 showed that over 60% of female riders earned less than 5,000 RMB per month, while 70% of male riders earned over 5,000 RMB monthly.
Additionally, the study indicated that the debt ratio among delivery personnel was as high as 62.94%. Nearly half of those in debt incurred it from purchasing houses or cars, while one-third accumulated debts due to failed entrepreneurial ventures.
Hangzhou’s “Delivery Queen” Huang Xiaoqin initially took up deliveries due to a failed business venture at a printing shop, which led to accumulating debts of over 800,000 RMB due to her father’s illness.
According to data from the People’s Bank of China as of the end of 2024, the total household debts in China reached 82.84 trillion RMB, accounting for 61.4% of the GDP.
Female riders often choose delivery work not only for the relatively higher wages but also due to the “daily wage” nature of the job. The money earned from deliveries the previous day can often be withdrawn the following day, providing flexibility for debt repayments or other expenses.
Huang Ying expressed that given the current unfavorable economic conditions, many people find immediate returns through delivery services. The transparency of income in the form of daily earnings serves as a significant incentive for many to join the industry.
She highlighted the instant gratification of being able to see the results of one’s work, allowing for quick withdrawals of earnings that serve as a strong motivator for individuals in tough financial situations.
Criticism such as “What can a woman like you do?” or “Why doesn’t the girl find an easier job?” are often faced by female riders when starting their work.
Huang Ying also shared her experience of feeling judged during her initial days of working as a delivery rider, especially because she didn’t have a poor appearance. Coming from a stable job in a company’s HR department, she experienced a stark contrast after transitioning to delivery work.
Furthermore, delivery riders, especially women, encounter unexpected and inconvenient situations frequently.
Yang Qing from Suzhou described the challenges specific to female delivery personnel: falling on rainy days, navigating high-end residential areas where electric bikes aren’t allowed, and needing customer permission or facing security protocols to enter elevators.
She elaborated on the complexity of deliveries in areas with ambiguous addresses, lacking door numbers, or needing card access for high-end residential buildings. Facing such hindrances could potentially cause delays and affect subsequent orders.
Huang Ying mentioned enduring the scorching sun during deliveries, feeling the discomfort of the heat but gradually adapting to the conditions over time. She mentioned that everyone in the industry has come to terms with the challenges and emphasizes the desire for a bit of relaxation and freedom in their daily routine.
Delivering messages might not be stressful, but certain unexpected circumstances can throw off schedules and disrupt the regular workflow.