The Postal Service provides a vital public service that is a part of the nation's critical infrastructure. The statute that created the Postal Service begins with the following sentence: “The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by an Act of Congress, and supported by the people.” 39 U.S.C. §101(a).
There's a Post Office on your phone. In 2019 the Postal Service app -- USPS Mobile -- was downloaded more than 2.1 million times from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Learn more
The Post Office Department was founded in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. His annual salary was $1,000. Before 1971, the PMG was a Cabinet member.
The most unusual delivery method used by USPS is a mule train in Arizona. The mules carry mail, food and supplies down an 8-mile trail to the Havasupai Indians at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Learn more
With Informed Delivery service, you can digitally preview your incoming mail and manage your packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. More than 20 million customers have enrolled since it was launched in 2017. Learn more
Heroes. Postal employees regularly go beyond the call of duty to protect the lives of customers they serve, including older and disabled customers through the Carrier Alert Program. In fiscal year 2019, the Postal Service recognized 232 heroic employees.
Zero tax dollars used. The Postal Service receives NO tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
In 2019 Postal Inspectors reported 5,759 arrests and 4,995 convictions related to postal crimes, primarily those involving mail theft, mail fraud and prohibited mailings.
The Postal Service operates a fleet of 40,000 alternative fuel-capable vehicles, most of which are equipped to use ethanol. There are electric, hybrid, compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas vehicles in the fleet as well. The Postal Service has 100 hybrid 2-ton vehicles. Fifty are electric hybrid and fifty are hydraulic hybrid.
With Package Pickup, you can go online to request Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail packages be picked up at your home or offices as part of your mail carrier’s regular route — for free. In 2018, the Postal Service picked up 209 million packages.
The Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp has raised more than $90 million for breast cancer research since 1998. More than 1.6 billion stamps have been sold. Learn more
In 2019, stamp and retail sales at The Postal Store on usps.com -- the official online Post Office -- totaled $301 million.
About Postal Facts
United States Postal Service - April 21, 2020
You know we deliver for America. And you know we’ve been doing it for a long time. But do you know exactly how much we deliver? Every day? Each year? Did you know we don’t use your tax dollars for our operations? Did you know we have programs designed to help the communities we serve? And what does the “ZIP” in ZIP Code mean anyway? You can find these answers and more at facts.usps.com.
When you explore Postal Facts, you’ll find information about postal operations and revenue as well as some things on the lighter side of our business. Our history goes all the way back to the founding of the nation. Postal Facts is a great place to learn about where we’ve been and where we’re going.
We’re proud to provide secure, reliable and affordable delivery of mail and packages to every address in the United States, its territories and its military installations worldwide. And consider this very important fact: everyone in the U.S. and its territories has access to postal products and services and pays the same for a First-Class Mail postage stamp regardless of location.
If you have any comments, questions or issues you would like to informs us about, please use our Postal Facts feedback form.
Want even more information about the United States Postal Service? We’ll keep you posted. You can connect with us in many ways, including:
Unless otherwise noted, all figures are based on the Postal Service’s fiscal year.
Trademarks
The Eagle Logo, the trade dress of USPS packaging, the Letter Carrier Uniform and the Postal Truck and the following marks are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service: Click-N-Ship®, Deliver The Win®, EDDM®, ePostage®, Every Door Direct Mail®, Express Mail®, First-Class™, First-Class Mail®, Forever®, Global Express Guaranteed®, IMb®, Informed Delivery®, Intelligent Mail®, Parcel Select®, P.O. Box™, Post Office®, Pony Express®, Postal Inspection Service™, PostalOne!®, Postal Police®, PostalProud®, Express International®, Priority Mail Flat Rate®, Priority Mail International®, Priority: You®, Registered Mail™, Standard Mail®, The Postal Store®, United States Postal Inspection Service®, United States Postal Service®, U.S. Mail®, U.S. Postal Inspector™, U.S. Postal Service®, USPS®, USPS BlueEarth®, USPS Mobile®, USPS Operation Santa®, USPS Tracking®, usps.com®, ZIP+4® and ZIP Code™. This is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service trademarks.
Non-Postal Trademarks
Forest Stewardship Council®, McDonald’s®, National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, Starbucks®, Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, Walmart®
Postal Facts 2020 provides the public with information about the Postal Service. The facts in this publication may be reproduced for the purpose of stating the fact itself, and in a business, informational, academic context and the like, and in the body of text discussing factual subject matter relevant to the fact being presented. However, these facts may become outdated after publication and seeking the latest information is advised.
The Eagle Logo, the trade dress of USPS packaging, the Letter Carrier Uniform and the Postal Truck and the following marks are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service: Click-N-Ship®, Deliver The Win®, EDDM®, ePostage®, Every Door Direct Mail®, Express Mail®, First-Class™, First-Class Mail®, Forever®, Global Express Guaranteed®, IMb®, Informed Delivery®, Intelligent Mail®, Parcel Select®, P.O. Box™, Post Office®, Pony Express®, Postal Inspection Service™, PostalOne!®, Postal Police®, PostalProud®, Express International®, Priority Mail Flat Rate®, Priority Mail International®, Priority: You®, Registered Mail™, Standard Mail®, The Postal Store®, United States Postal Inspection Service®, United States Postal Service®, U.S. Mail®, U.S. Postal Inspector™, U.S. Postal Service®, USPS®, USPS BlueEarth®, USPS Mobile®, USPS Operation Santa®, USPS Tracking®, usps.com®, ZIP+4® and ZIP Code™. This is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service trademarks.
Non-Postal Trademarks
Forest Stewardship Council®, McDonald’s®, National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, Starbucks®, Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, Walmart®
Postal Facts 2020 provides the public with information about the Postal Service. The facts in this publication may be reproduced for the purpose of stating the fact itself, and in a business, informational, academic context and the like, and in the body of text discussing factual subject matter relevant to the fact being presented. However, these facts may become outdated after publication and seeking the latest information is advised.
