The invention discloses a hydraulic drive system for a forklift. The hydraulic drive system is characterized by comprising a brake device, a lift cylinder, a tilt cylinder, a steering cylinder, and agear pump and a hydraulic oil tank for supplying high pressure oil to the brake device, the lift cylinder, the tilt cylinder, and the steering cylinder; The drive system further comprises an oil inletvalve plate, a brake oil passage, a steering oil passage, a lift oil passage, and a return oil pipeline. When the drive system is working, the hydraulic oil of the gear pump is divided into two pathsby a priority valve in the oil inlet valve plate. One path controls steering and braking of the forklift body through the brake oil passage and the steering oil passage; and the other path is connected with the lift oil passage and a tilt oil passage, and controls lifting action and tilting action of a portal frame. Compared with the conventional hydraulic drive system, the hydraulic drive systemfor the forklift disclosed by the invention has lower manufacturing cost, is lighter and comfortable to operate, and improves production efficiency.