Postal Facts - U.S. Postal Service
We make the connection. Friends and families, businesses and customers. The United States Postal Service delivers to every address in America, from the biggest cities to the smallest hamlets. The U.S. Mail is part of the fundamental infrastructure of this nation. It is a basic connection between all of the people and all of their institutions. This is our mandate — binding the nation together. This is our commitment — providing secure, reliable, affordable delivery of mail and packages. Always have, always will. It’s what we do.
Companion PDF – 2022
The U.S. Postal Service upholds its promise to deliver the nation’s Election Mail securely and on time, consistent with the organization’s non-partisan public service mission.
24-hour
unstaffed Post Office
One of a kind. There is a 24-hour, unstaffed, self-service Post Office in Northern Virginia that allows customers to conduct most shipping and mailing transactions quickly and easily themselves. The Self-Service Post Office provides round-the-clock accessibility to PO Boxes, as well as self-service kiosks and an automated package drop. In 2021, more than 9,000 customers took advantage of this convenient office.
brand vault
425.3M
mail pieces processed daily
The Postal Service processed and delivered an average of 425.3M mail pieces daily in 2021.
The price of a First-Class postage stamp is a global bargain.
3.3 million
pounds weekly
The Postal Service sends 3.3 million pounds of international, military, and diplomatic mail and packages weekly, using 70 international airlines, composed of 11 US flag carriers and 19 foreign flag carriers, and their affiliates.
International Mail is a $2.2 billion business for the Postal Service.
The Postal Service is worldwide, shipping to many countries and working closely with other posts to improve service and increase its annual share of the international shipping market at the same time.
The U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail than any other post in the world. The Postal Service serves 163.1 million addresses in the country — covering every state, city and town. Everyone living in the United States and its territories has access to postal products and services and pays the same for a First-Class Mail postage stamp regardless of location.
There are 31,247 Postal Service-managed retail offices. This number does not include contract offices.
The Postal Service leased 22,986 properties in 2021.
The Postal Service owns 8,460 properties around the country.
The Postal Service is the original social network, but that doesn't mean we aren't represented on the others. You can find the Postal Service on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Veterans. The Postal Service employs nearly 68,000 military veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. The organization has also issued more than 140 stamps honoring the nation’s military history, including the Service Cross Medals stamps.
POSTAL BLUE
is getting greener
The Postal Service is working hard to put its stamp on a greener tomorrow for the many communities we serve. Postal carriers deliver mail using alternative fuel vehicles, on foot and even on bicycles. The 2020 energy reduction in postal buildings equated to powering more than 36,000 U.S. homes and the Postal Service is expanding solar powered facilities in 2021.
The Postal Service uses data not only to ensure its operations run smoothly, but also to help businesses make better use of the mail. Its mission is to provide the right information to the right people in real time using advanced technology.
The Postal Service uses a vast network of people and advanced technologies to collect, process, transport and accurately deliver the nation’s mail in an increasingly digital world.
The Postal Service invests more than $600 million in training its workforce. The organization encourages employees to take advantage of self-paced career development by offering 24,000 online courses and 28 educational partnerships offering discounts towards degree and certification programs.
The Postal Service has a long and storied history of creating new technologies for the American people — enabling faster, more efficient communication and safer, more secure delivery of correspondence and merchandise. For nearly two-and-a-half centuries, it has adapted to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
As an independent establishment of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, the Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.
With more than 34,000 retail locations, more than 12 million daily visits on usps.com and delivering to 150.4 million residences and 12.8 million businesses at least 6 days a week, the Postal Service is committed to providing a positive customer experience.
Everyone living in the United States and its territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and N. Mariana Islands) has access to postal products and services and pays the same for a First-Class Mail postage stamp regardless of the sender’s location.
The Postal Service owns 1,884 internet domains
Better to see you with! The Postal Service ordered 527,000 wiper blades in 2021.
The Postal Service moves mail by planes, hovercraft, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, bicycles, mules and feet. #WeDeliverForYou
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).
The Postal Service added an average of 5,825 addresses to its delivery network every day in 2021.
17.7 million
mail pieces each hour
On average, the Postal Service processes 425.3 million mail pieces each day, 17.7 million each hour, 295,000 each minute and 5,000 each second.
In 2021, the Postal Service received $364.5 million in revenue from 2,742 postal self-service kiosks (SSK).
Every two weeks, the Postal Service pays $2.15 billion in salaries and benefits.
Forty-six percent of the world's mail volume is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
Louis DeJoy is the 75th Postmaster General of the United States.
6.18 million
passport applications
The Postal Service accepted 6.18 million passport applications in 2021.
If it were a private sector company, the Postal Service would rank 43rd in the 2021 Fortune 500. In the 2021 Global Fortune 500 list, we ranked 123rd.
3.3 million
corporate emails daily
With one of the largest corporate email systems, in 2021, the Postal Service handled more than 3.3 million legitimate emails a day delivered to more than 212,000 email accounts.
The U.S. Postal Service has no official motto. Nope, it’s not this: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But we certainly appreciate the sentiment.
There are 41,683 ZIP Codes in the country.
1.2 billion
miles traveled
Stellar performance!
During 2021, Postal Service employees traveled 1.2 billion miles to deliver your mail, equivalent to 48,191 laps around Earth, 5,023 trips to the moon or 13 trips to the sun.
*Based on the average moon and sun distance.
The Military Postal Service provides service in 63 countries. There are 401 land-based and 626 onboard-ship Military Post Offices. The U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Post Office serves 32,500 customers at 184 diplomatic missions across 103 countries around the world. There are 1,200 ZIP Codes within the Military and Diplomatic Postal Service around the world.
For 109 years, postal employees and the American public have helped bring more magic to the holiday season, one letter to Santa at a time.
$77
billion operating revenue
The Postal Service had $77 billion in operating revenue in 2021
There were 516,636 career employees in 2021. The number of non-career employees was 136,531.
128.9
billion mail volume
Total mail volume in 2021 was 128.9 billion.
163.1
million delivery points
The Postal Service prides itself on going the last mile to deliver the mail. We served 163.1 million delivery points nationwide in 2021 with 1.7 million new delivery points added to the network.
36,000,000
address changes
36 million address changes were processed in 2021.
31,247
retail Post Offices
There are 31,247 Postal Service-managed retail Post Offices in the United States.
749.1
million customer visits
The Postal Service recorded 749.1 million retail customer visits during 2021.
$13
billion retail revenue
In 2021, retail revenue totaled $13 billion.
The U.S. Postal Service is the core of the nation’s $1.6 trillion mailing industry, which employs more than 7.3 million people.
Vehicles. The Postal Service has more than 230,000 vehicles, one of the largest civilian fleets in the world. Next generation delivery vehicles will have improved ergonomics, safety features, fuel efficiency and design flexibility.
Affordability. For 58 cents, anyone can send a letter, regardless of geographic location, to anywhere in the United States and its territories.
Nearly 74,000 letter carriers drive to neighborhoods and then deliver the mail on foot. Nearly 6,600 carriers deliver mail entirely on foot -- the USPS Fleet of Feet. Mail is delivered by bicycle on select routes in Arizona and Florida, reducing emissions and saving fuel.
The Postal Service processes and delivers 425.3 million mail pieces each day.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
4.5 billion
usps.com visits
In 2021, usps.com recorded 4.5 billion visits -- averaging more than 12 million visitors each day. It's one of the most frequently visited government sites.
$454 million
online sales
In 2021, stamp and retail sales at The Postal Store on usps.com -- the official online Post Office -- totaled $454 million.
Trademarks
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®, First-Class Package International Service®, Forever®, Global Express Guaranteed®, IMb®, Informed Delivery®, Intelligent Mail®, Label Broker™, Parcel Select®, P.O. Box™, Post Office®, Pony Express®, Postal Inspection Service™, PostalOne!®, Postal Police®, PostalProud®, Priority Mail 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®, We are people delivering to people™, ZIP+4® and ZIP Code™. This is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service trademarks.
Non-Postal Trademarks
Dollar General®, Forest Stewardship Council®, McDonald’s®, National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, Starbucks®, Subway®, Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, The Climate Registry®.
Postal Facts 2022 provides the public with information about the U.S. Postal Service. The facts in this publication may be reproduced for the purpose of stating the fact itself, and in a business, informational or 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.
Produced by U.S. Postal Service Corporate Communications
© 2022 United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
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