Berne, 8 October 2021. Switzerland placed first in an annual postal development ranking released by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the UN specialized agency responsible for international postal cooperation and development. However, the research shows postal development gaps are widening.
The 2021 ranking builds a picture of postal performance across 168 countries using postal big data and other statistics collected by the UPU.
UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein noted, “This year’s ranking is particularly significant given that the performance of our postal organizations has, for more than one-and-half years, been adversely affected by the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Switzerland, Swiss Post Executive Board Member and CEO of Logistics Services Johannes Cramer said, “The award is a tribute to all the hard work and dedication that I see in my colleagues every day. We are honoured by this award and see it as a challenge to live up to this standard that we have set for ourselves in the coming years. A very big thank to all my colleagues for their engagement!”
Germany ranked second this year, while Austria placed third. Belarus, Brazil, Ghana, Singapore and Tunisia were also recognized for standout performance in their respective regions.
The annual ranking – known as the Integrated Index for Postal Development, or 2IPD – is included within the UPU’s Postal Development Report. The research, now in its fifth year, evaluates postal development across four indicators: reliability, reach, relevance and resilience.
This year’s report showed an encouraging rebound in postal delivery times compared to those of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and growing opportunities within the e-commerce business. However, it revealed deepening disparities in postal development – a yearly warning that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The report’s recommendations include expanding international activities, as well as sharing experiences and best practices among the UPU’s network of 192 member countries.
Read the 2021 Postal Development Report here
The Universal Postal Union is a UN specialized agency with its headquarters in the Swiss capital Berne. Established in 1874, it is one of the world’s oldest international organizations and is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.
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