23 Eye-Opening Lyft Statistics and Facts (2023)

Lyft has become a household name in ridesharing over the past decade. As the second largest rideshare company behind Uber, Lyft has amassed millions of drivers and riders.

In this in-depth guide, we will explore 23 of the most insightful Lyft statistics to understand how this transportation disruptor operates.

Lyft Company Overview

Let‘s start with some basic facts about the rideshare pioneer:

• Founded in 2012 in San Francisco by Logan Green and John Zimmer
• Currently operates in over 650 cities in the United States and Canada
• Went public on the NASDAQ exchange in 2019 under ticker symbol LYFT
• Employs over 5,000 people but relies on independent contractors for drivers
• CEO Logan Green holds 7.1% ownership stake, retaining significant voting power

Now that we know the basics about Lyft, let’s explore some revealing rideshare data and metrics behind the business.

1. Lyft Facilitated Over 1.8 Billion Rides by End of 2022

According to Lyft‘s Q4 2022 financial results, the company has facilitated over 1.875 billion rides since its inception in 2012.

That works out to an average of over 200 million rides facilitated per year. An impressive figure considering the company only launched in 2012.

To put those ride figures in perspective:

• In 2021, Lyft facilitated nearly 500 million rides
• In 2022, they exceeded 682 million rides

As pandemic restrictions faded, people returned to ridesharing in droves during 2022.

2. Lyft Reached All-Time High of Nearly 24 Million Active Riders

In Q2 2022, Lyft hit an all-time high by recording 23.8 million active riders. This figure declined to 20.3 million active riders per month in Q4 2022, still an impressive number.

The growth represents a 19% increase in active riders compared to the same period in 2021.

To qualify as an active rider, an individual must take at least one ride during a quarter. So millions of people rely on Lyft for transportation every month.

3. In 2022, Lyft Reported Record $4.1 Billion in Revenue

Lyft has achieved tremendous growth in terms of financials:

• 2017 revenue: $1.06 billion
• 2018 revenue: $2.15 billion
• 2019 revenue: $3.61 billion
• 2020 revenue: $2.36 billion (impacted by COVID-19)
• 2021 revenue: $3.2 billion
• 2022 revenue: $4.1 billion (all-time record)

2022 marked Lyft‘s first-ever year surpassing $4 billion in total revenue. However, will it lead to profitability?

4. Lyft Has Never Achieved Profitability

Despite impressive growth in ridership and revenue, Lyft has never recorded a profitable year since being founded. By looking at net losses:

• 2017 net loss: $688 million
• 2018 net loss: $911 million
• 2019 net loss: $2.6 billion
• 2020 net loss: $1.8 billion
• 2021 net loss: $1 billion
• 2022 net loss: $1.2 billion

The mounting losses mainly come from operations and administration expenses needed to grow the business. It appears profitability may still be years away.

5. Lyft Sold Its Self-Driving Car Division for $550 Million

In April 2021, Lyft sold Level 5, its self-driving car division, to Woven Planet Holdings, a subsidiary of Toyota. The sale price came to approximately $550 million.

Lyft launched Level 5 back in 2017 with aspirations of having a leading autonomous vehicle program. But the high costs ultimately forced them to sell the unit to refocus resources.

6. In 2022, Revenue Per Active Rider Hit All-Time High of $58

To track business performance, Lyft monitors revenue per active rider (RPAR).

• RPAR hit a peak of $52.43 in Q4 2021
• In Q1 2022, RPAR declined to $46.40 due to Omicron variant
• RPAR rebounded to an all-time high of $58.00 in Q4 2022

The rising RPAR shows users spent 20% more per ride in Q4 2022 compared to 2021, on average. This revenue growth outpaced the rise in active riders overall.

7. As of 2022, Lyft Had Over 2 Million Drivers in North America

Lyft relies on a network of independent contractors who work as drivers. The latest statistics show:

• Over 2 million drivers in the United States and Canada combined
• More than 450,000 drivers added in 2022 alone

To meet surging ride demand, Lyft has invested to rapidly expand its driver population in recent quarters.

8. Average Lyft Driver Earns $37 per Hour

According to Lyft, the average driver earns over $37 per hour including tips. Drivers keep 100% of the tips they earn too.

Of course, the hourly wage can fluctuate substantially depending on ride demand and peak times in that city. Not all drivers may achieve $37 per hour average.

9. 90%+ of Lyft Drivers Have Full or Part-Time Jobs

An overwhelming majority of Lyft drivers already have other jobs and use ridesharing to supplement their income.

Based on Lyft‘s data on drivers:

• 52% have full-time employment in addition to rideshare driving
• 38% have part-time employment in addition to rideshare driving
• 90%+ have some form of traditional employment

This demonstrates most rideshare drivers don‘t rely on platforms like Lyft or Uber as a primary income stream.

10. 94% of Lyft Drivers Drive Less Than 20 Hours Weekly

Further confirming rideshare driving as supplementary income, 94% of Lyft drivers spend less than 20 hours per week giving passengers rides.

Only 6% provide over 20 hours per week of ridesharing through Lyft.

So most drivers value the flexibility to choose when and how often they drive passengers. Ridesharing nicely complements other commitments.

11. 23% of Lyft Drivers Are Female

Historically rideshare driving has been male-dominated. But the number of female drivers is rising based on company data:

• In early 2019 only 19% of Lyft drivers were women
• As of Q4 2022, 23% of Lyft drivers are women

That percentage equates to over 460,000 female drivers across North America helping passengers get around through Lyft.

12. 94% of Lyft Drivers Rate Flexibility as Critical

We know most Lyft drivers have other jobs and commitments. So the flexibility of rideshare driving ranks extremely high.

• 94% rate the ability to be their own boss and set their schedule as very or extremely important

Without flexibility, many drivers likely wouldn‘t provide rides on rideshare platforms at all.

13. Lyft Claims Over 30% Market Share Versus Uber in the US

Uber Technologies still firmly holds the #1 spot in ridesharing with nearly 70% market share in the United States.

But Lyft is a clear second place with over 30% rideshare market share nationally. And they have plans to keep chipping away at Uber‘s dominance.

14. Lyft Facilitates Over 30 Million Healthcare Rides Per Year

Beyond traditional personal transportation, Lyft provides specialized services too:

• 30+ million non-emergency medical transportation rides per year
• 10 million+ rides to support food delivery and meal assistance programs
• Rides for 60% of Fortune 500 companies with employee commuter programs

Offering services beyond personal transportation opens up additional long-term revenue streams.

15. Poor Passenger Experience is Main Reason Drivers Quit Lyft

While many drivers enjoy the freedom ridesharing provides, passenger issues causes some to quit entirely.

In a survey by SherpaShare, 33% of former Lyft drivers said a poor rider experience was the primary reason for no longer driving. Dealing with challenging rider behaviors over time understandably causes driver burnout.

Lyft still has work to do ensuring drivers feel appropriately supported despite passengers acting improperly at times.

16. Lyft Aims for 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030

As part of Lyft‘s environmental commitments:

• Reach 100% electric vehicles on the platform by 2030
• Continue adding electric bikes and scooters for sustainable transportation

Transitioning fully to green vehicles will reduce carbon emissions substantially.

17. Almost 75% Use Lyft for Airport Trips

Based on Lyft‘s recent rider data:

• 74% use Lyft for airport drop-offs/pickups
• 58% take Lyft rides for entertainment outings
• 49% utilize Lyft to connect with public transit

Airport transportation leads the list of common Lyft uses by a wide margin. Business travelers in particular need easy airport rides.

18. Lyft Riders Took Over 93 Million Bike & Scooter Rides in 2022

While known for ridesharing, Lyft facilitates bike and scooter rides too:

• 93+ million bike and scooter rides provided in 2022
• 25% growth in bike and scooter rides versus 2021

Offering multiple transportation modes helps attract rider demand. And bikes/scooters produce zero emissions.

19. Almost 60% of Business Travelers Use Lyft for Ground Transportation

According to Certify, Lyft captures nearly 60% market share for business ground transportation in the United States.

With Lyft Business profiles, companies can easily manage Lyft rides for traveling employees. No need for stressful car rentals at far-flung destinations.

Clearly Lyft has succeeded at positioning itself as the rideshare leader for corporate travelers on the road.

20. Lyft Donated Over $800 Million in Cash and Rides Since 2012

Lyft provides support beyond transportation through extensive corporate social responsibility efforts:

• 800+ million in cash and ride credits donated since founded in 2012
• Partnerships supporting economic opportunity, access to healthcare/education, and the environment

Aligning business goals with positive community impact has been a priority since Day 1.

21. Almost 75% of Lyft‘s Board of Directors Are Women

Diversity has become a major emphasis for Lyft‘s governance. The current Board of Directors makeup:

• 73% women
• 36% people of color

The high female representation sets an example for technology firms plagued by gender imbalances in leadership roles historically.

22. Lyft Riders Can Offset All CO2 Emissions

For riders concerned about the environmental footprint from ridesharing, Lyft launched carbon offsetting in 2021.

Within the app, riders can opt to mitigate the carbon emissions from each ride by contributing a few extra cents. Lyft coordinates trusted offset programs on the user‘s behalf.

Over time, small per-ride contributions will finance substantial emissions reductions industry-wide.

23. 94% of Lyft Drivers Prefer Contractor Status Over Employee

While regulations around gig workers remain controversial, an overwhelming majority of rideshare drivers prefer contractor status according to Lyft‘s survey:

• 94% of Lyft drivers want to remain independent contractors
• The flexibility and control strongly preferred over being employees

Forcing drivers onto company payrolls could substantially alter the rideshare model. Most drivers clearly worry about losing the aspects they currently value.

The Road Ahead for Lyft

In a little over a decade, Lyft has revolutionized personal transportation and shaken up entrenched taxi networks.

But despite impressive growth, the path to profitability remains unclear. Intense competition versus Uber also cannot be ignored.

However, through Lyft‘s focus on social responsibility and environmental sustainability, they have an opportunity to differentiate from rivals. Their ambition could make Lyft a corporate role model if they achieve those lofty goals.

Through this data, one thing is certain − Lyft has permanently changed urban transportation through technology. We‘ll see if Lyft can continue increasing rideshare dominance in the years ahead.