World Post Day | United Nations (original) (raw)

The postal sector remains a critical element in the global ecosystem, transcending borders to connect people, businesses and governments.

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Innovation, Integration and Inclusion

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

In 2015 countries all over the world committed themselves to working together towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end extreme poverty and hunger, fight inequality and injustice, and take action to reverse climate change - to name just some of these 17 agreed new Goals. Playing its part in this global effort, the Post today has a more relevant role than ever by providing infrastructure for development.

2024 theme: 150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nation

In 2024, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) celebrates its 150th anniversary.

With the theme “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations,” this year’s World Post Day recognizes the UPU’s longstanding achievements and reinforces its commitment to serve all peoples for the decades and centuries to come.

Join the celebration of this historic milestone as we reflect on 150 years of progress and look toward a future where communication remains a driving force for peace, prosperity, and global understanding. #WorldPostDay, #UPU150

UPU’s International Letter-Writing Competition

The annual competition, launched in 1971, aims to promote literacy among children through the art of letter writing. Attracting more than 1.2 million global participants each year, the competition encourages young people aged 9-15 to write letters on a given theme. For this edition, participants will be encouraged to reflect on the future of the world under the theme: "At 150 years old, the UPU has served people around the world for more than eight generations. The world has changed enormously since then. Write a letter to future generations about the world you hope they inherit."

Background

The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. The celebration encourages member countries to undertake programme activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of their Post’s role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.

Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways. In certain countries, World Post Day is observed as a working holiday. Many Posts use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Some Posts also use World Post Day to reward their employees for good service.

In many countries, philatelic exhibitions are organized, and new stamps and date cancellation marks are issued. Other activities include the display of World Post Day posters in post offices and other public places, open days at post offices, mail centres and postal museums, the holding of conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as cultural, sport and other recreational activities. Many postal administrations issue special souvenirs such as T-shirts and badges.

For countries participating in the UPU International Letter-Writing Competition, national winners are often honoured on 9 October.

Did you know?

• Over 1.5 billion people worldwide – approximately 28% of the global adult population – access basic financial services (payments, money transfers, and savings) through postal networks.
• The global parcels market has grown from just under 450 billion USD in 2018 to over 500 billion USD in 2020.
• 53% of post offices in the world provide insurance, a critical financial service to strengthen the resilience of low-income individuals faced with irregular and unpredictable levels of revenue.
• With a network comprising more than 650,000 offices and 5.3 million staff globally, and a public service mandate from many governments, the Post is unparalleled in its ability to deliver services to anyone, anywhere.

2024 poster

Post Service and UPU

Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland, is the second oldest international organization worldwide (after the International Telecommunication Union, ITU); it coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system, and became on 1 July 1948 a specialized agency of the United Nations.

UN Stamps

The United Nations is the only organization in the world which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps. It is also the only postal authority to issue stamps in three different currencies, namely U.S. dollars, Swiss francs and Euro. The first United Nations stamps were issued in U.S. dollar denominations on United Nations Day, 24 October, in 1951. UN stamps have illustrated the aims and achievements of the United Nations and its family of organizations.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.