London taxi numbers fall by a third over 15 years as industry faces uncertain future if trends continue
- Perry Richardson
- 52m
- 2 min read
London’s taxi industry has seen a sharp and prolonged fall in both driver and vehicle numbers, with the decline showing no sign of slowing. Official Transport for London (TfL) figures reveal a drop of over 30% in licensed taxi drivers and nearly 35% in taxi vehicles since 2009/10. If current trends continue, the next five years could see the licensed taxi trade shrink to levels not seen in living memory.
In 2009/10, there were 24,914 licensed taxi drivers in the capital. As of 2024/25, that figure has dropped to 16,676—a fall of 8,238 drivers, or 33%. Taxi vehicle numbers have also declined from 22,445 to 14,570 over the same period, marking a 35% reduction.
The drop has been gradual but consistent. From 2009/10 to 2015/16, total driver numbers stayed relatively stable, hovering around the 25,000 mark. But from 2016/17 onward, the fall became more pronounced. By 2019/20, driver numbers were down to 22,337. The pandemic then accelerated the decline, with the total plummeting to 20,786 in 2020/21 and falling further each year since.
The number of All London drivers, also known as ‘Green Badge’ cabbies, has dropped from 21,334 in 2009/10 to 15,058 in 2024/25—a fall of 6,276 or 29%. Suburban driver numbers, also known as ‘Yellow Badges’, have seen a steeper drop, falling from 3,580 to 1,618, a 55% decrease.
Taxi vehicle numbers follow a similar pattern. After a peak of 23,099 in 2011/12, numbers have steadily decreased. In the years just before the pandemic, they stood at around 20,000, then dropped to 13,461 in 2020/21. The recovery since has been limited, with the latest figure of 14,570 still 7,875 below the 2009/10 total.
Looking ahead, if these trends persist, the taxi industry could see driver numbers fall below 15,000 by 2026 and potentially under 13,000 by 2029. Vehicle numbers may also dip below 13,000 over the same period. This would represent a further 22% decline in drivers and a 10% fall in vehicles within five years.
Several factors appear to be contributing to the sustained fall. The growth of app-based private hire operators has changed saturated the work available not only for those working in the private hire sector, but also the taxi trade. New entrants to the trade face higher upfront costs, tougher regulations, and the demands of the Knowledge of London compared to working on ride-hail platforms. The shift towards zero-emission vehicles has also added financial pressure, with electric taxis often costing more than traditional models.
Unless significant changes are made to attract new drivers, support fleet renewal, and improve working conditions, the decline looks set to continue both in terms of retaining and recruiting cabbies.
