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Archive:Postal service statistics - universal service providers

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Data from August 2012. Most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.
Table 1: Key economic indicators for the postal sector, 2004-2010 - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_tur) and (post_ps_empn)
Figure 1: Turnover from the domestic postal sector relative to GDP, 2004 and 2010
(% of GDP) - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_tur) and (nama_gdp_c)
Figure 2: Number of persons employed in the domestic postal sector as a share of total employment, 2004 and 2010 (1)
(%) - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_empn), (nama_aux_pem) and (lfsa_egan)
Table 2: Post offices and postal items, 2004-2010 - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_ac) and (post_ps_let)
Figure 3: Average number of inhabitants served by each post office, 2004 and 2010
(1 000 inhabitants) - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_ac) and (demo_gind)
Figure 4: Average number of letter-post items per inhabitant, 2004 and 2010 (1)
(number) - Source: Eurostat (post_ps_let) and (demo_gind)

This article looks at European Union (EU) postal service statistics that cover universal service providers (USPs), in other words, postal service providers operating under the universal service obligation. Eurostat restarted the collection of data on postal services in 2005.

The main priorities for EU policies on postal services include the completion of the internal market and ensuring efficient, reliable and good quality services at affordable prices for individuals and enterprises. Some of the key elements of EU policy in this area include: the gradual opening of the market to competition, guaranteed access to a universal postal service, cost transparency, a reduction of the postal reserved area, setting common quality standards, harmonisation of technical standards, and creating conditions for rapid technological progress.

Main statistical findings

Incomplete data for some EU Member States means that it is not always possible to provide EU-27 aggregates for postal indicators. Based on the information that is available for 19 Member States between 2004 and 2010, current price turnover in the EU’s postal sector contracted by 6.9 % overall – in part, reflecting the growing pressure from the emergence of ICT substitutes such as SMS (short-message service) texts, e-mail, chat rooms, VOIP (voice-over-internet protocol) and video alternatives.

Domestic turnover in the postal sector increased strongly between 2004 and 2010 in Lithuania and Latvia, rising overall by more than 80 % in both of these Member States; relatively large increases were also recorded in Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Cyprus. By contrast, turnover fell by more than 10 % between 2004 and 2010 in Estonia, Germany and Sweden; while the largest contraction in sales was reported in Bulgaria (-24.9 %) – see Table 1; note that all of the German data for 2010 relates solely to the leading operator.

In relative terms (see Figure 1), the turnover derived from domestic postal services in 2010 peaked at a level equivalent to 0.65 % of GDP in Sweden; the latest available data for Finland and France indicates slightly higher ratios although it should be noted that this dates from 2007. Belgium, Denmark, Austria and the United Kingdom were the only other EU Member States where sales from the postal sector reached a level equivalent to 0.5 % of GDP or more. The ratio of turnover to GDP fell in the majority of Member States between 2004 and 2010; this was particularly the case in Sweden, Estonia and Luxembourg (2004 to 2008). There were eight EU Member States that reported the ratio of turnover to GDP rising between 2004 and 2010 (or nearest available years) – gains were generally modest, other than in Romania, where the relative weight of turnover from the postal sector doubled from 0.13 % of GDP to 0.26 % (between 2005 and 2010).

The postal sector in the EU-27 employed in excess of 1.0 million persons in 2010 (no recent data available for Ireland or Italy, 2009 data for France). France had the largest workforce in the postal sector, totalling 252 000 (2009 data), far ahead of Germany’s 171 000 persons employed (estimate; again this figure is only for the leading operator) and the United Kingdom’s 168 000 (both these latter values are for 2010). France’s postal workforce was not just large in absolute terms, it also represented a high, albeit declining, share (0.9 %) of the total workforce – see Figure 2. Between 2004 and 2010 employment in the postal sector decreased in the majority of EU Member States. Based on information that is available for 24 Member States, the EU’s postal workforce contracted by almost 10 % between 2004 and 2010. An analysis by Member State shows that the largest reductions in the number of persons employed in the postal sector were recorded in Estonia, Denmark (both have breaks in series), Latvia and Sweden, where employment in the postal sector fell by at least 20 %. By contrast, the number of persons employed in the postal sector grew in eight of the Member States, most noticeably in Hungary (10.4 %) and Slovakia (8.9 %).

Postal items may be deposited by customers for processing in different physical facilities. These access points include post offices, agencies and outlets, mobile post offices, letter boxes, post office boxes and places at which only stamps can be bought. Table 2 provides an overview of the number of post offices, while Figure 3 gives an indication of the density of the post office network relative to population size. The average number of inhabitants served by a post office in 2010 ranged from 1 500 or less in Sweden, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic or Cyprus to one post office for more than 7 500 inhabitants in the Netherlands and Belgium which are both densely populated countries.

In 2010, the largest operator in Germany handled the highest number (around 14 700 million) of letter-post items; note that no recent data are available for the three next largest EU Member States – aside from a figure of 5 474 million items for Italy in 2006. Otherwise, Spain and the Netherlands recorded the highest number of letter-post items (4 459 and 4 293 million respectively) – see Table 2. Between 2004 and 2010 the number of letter-post items dropped by 20 % or more in Bulgaria, Denmark and Malta, and fell in 13 other Member States (data are available for 20 Member States). The number of letter-post items increased in four Member States between 2004 and 2010, with relatively modest increases recorded in Ireland and Luxembourg, while much larger gains were recorded in Latvia (23.1 %) and Cyprus (33.8 %).

An analysis of postal traffic in relation to population data shows that Finland and Luxembourg recorded the highest number of letter-post items per inhabitant in 2010 (around 360 items per inhabitant), while the only other EU Member States to record more than 200 letter-post items per inhabitant were Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden – see Figure 4. By contrast, 12 Member States handled less than 100 letter-post items per inhabitant, with Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland averaging less than 50 items per inhabitant.

Data sources and availability

The data presented in this article cover postal service providers operating under the universal service obligation, known as universal service providers. In this context universal service refers to the set of general interest demands to which services such as the mail should be subject throughout society – the aim of such an obligation is to ensure that all users have access to quality services at an affordable price.

Eurostat restarted collecting data on postal services in 2005. All data presented in this article are based on Eurostat’s EU postal survey. The data was provided by the national regulatory authorities in each participating country, including the EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Context

The purpose of EU policy in the postal sector is to complete the internal market for postal services and to ensure, through an appropriate regulatory framework, that efficient, affordable, reliable and good quality postal services are available throughout the EU for all citizens and enterprises. The importance of postal services both for the economic prosperity and social well-being and cohesion of the EU make this a priority area for EU action. Fundamental aspects of the EU’s postal policy include a desire to improve the quality of service made available, in particular in terms of delivery performance and convenient access.

The process of liberalising the postal services market in the EU was initially set in motion by a Green paper on the development of the single market for postal services in 1992. Its aim was to open-up national monopolies to competition in order to make postal services cheaper, faster, more efficient and more innovative, harmonise performance across the EU Member States, and improve the quality of cross-border services. The EU legal framework for postal services is set out in Directive 97/67 and subsequent amendments. The ongoing process of liberalisation has brought about a gradual reduction of reserved postal services. Most of the Member States were due to reach a state of complete liberalisation of their postal sectors as of 1 January 2011, although some were afforded a deadline some two years later.

The European Regulators Group for Postal Services was established in August 2010 by the European Commission. This group will advise and assist the European Commission, and its establishment is expected to strengthen cooperation between the national regulatory authorities and thereby help to develop best practices.

See also

Further Eurostat information

Publications

Database

Universal Service Providers (post_ps)

Methodology / Metadata

Source data for tables, figures and maps (MS Excel)

Other information

  • Postal Directive 97/67 of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service.
  • Postal Directive 2002/39 of 10 June 2002 amending Directive 97/67 with regard to the further opening to competition of Community postal services.
  • Postal Directive 2008/06 of 20 February 2008 amending Directive 97/67 with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services.

External links


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