Which Countries Have the Best Postal Services in the World?
This article looks at the countries with the best State postal services across the world – and one or two of the worst, at least as far as customers believe. The Moving Partnership can help with moves to virtually all countries.
It is a four-minute read.
While email has largely overtaken letters as a primary method of communication in today’s technology-driven world, there are occasions when we rely on more old-fashioned methods. This particularly applies at Christmas when you may have a lot of cards to send. Here, we look at those countries with the fastest and most reliable domestic postal services.
International Removals with The Moving Partnership
The Moving Partnership can help with removals to America and a host of other countries, including South Africa, Canada and China. We also arrange moves to most European countries.
The USA
The US Postal Service’s remit is enshrined in the American Constitution and has a monopoly on letter delivery within the country. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the ability “to establish Post Offices and post roads,” and the buildings needed to maintain a mail delivery system.
It’s the only operator which is legally allowed to put letters in postboxes marked US Mail, and other private letterboxes; however, when it comes to parcels, it has to compete against private delivery services. It has a universal service obligation with regards to price and quality, so standards (and prices) are at the same level for everyone, whatever part of the country you live in.
Sending a standard letter in the US currently costs $0.78 for a First-Class Mail Forever stamp for letters up to 1 ounce, but costs increase for heavier, oversized, or square envelopes. It guarantees overnight delivery (with Priority Mail Express), whereas First Class Mail can take between one and five days to arrive. Given the physical distances involved in the country, this is perhaps not too surprising.
It’s been consistently ranked in the top 10 in the Universal Postal Union’s annual survey; this takes factors such as reliability, reach and resilience into account.
Switzerland
If you are considering an overseas house move to Switzerland, then Swiss Post consistently tops the rankings of surveys into postal services across the world. It has been praised for its innovative working practices, and it also offers integrated banking.
It is a publicly owned company, although it receives no State subsidy. With more than 50,000 staff, it is the country’s second-highest employer. While its domestic base is in Bern, it also has branches in 25 other countries.
Its universal service obligation means it must deliver letters and parcels five days a week, and newspapers and magazines on six days. Like the UK, it has first and second-class post, with A-mail (the former) delivered on the next working day. Parcels usually take one to three days to arrive.
Germany
Deutsche Post is the German postal service, and it too consistently scores well in international surveys. This has been put down to its willingness to embrace modern technology and the country’s good transport infrastructure.
Letters and parcels are only one part of its services – it also has a number of other departments. One deals exclusively with print products, another with retail outlets (which include post offices in shops) and another offers direct services such as market research.
If you are considering moving home to Germany, then your domestic letters and parcels are usually delivered the next day, while EU countries take between two and three days. As usual, the more you pay, the quicker your parcel or letter will reach its destination.
The Netherlands
The Dutch postal service PostNL also ranks well in international surveys, usually in the top 10. This is important at this time of year, as the Dutch still send a lot of Christmas cards.
A standard PostNL stamp for a letter up to 20g within the country costs €1.31 as of July 2025, with international letters (0-20g) costing €2.00. The service operates five days a week and also has a presence in many other European countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany and the UK.
…and The Worst Countries
The International Postal Union says countries in Africa and Latin America generally fare worst when it comes to customer experiences. This is down to a lack of infrastructure, particularly when it comes to roads and transport, rather than the fault of any individuals.
In Europe, Italy and Belgium did not fare well in postal user surveys, where both State services are suffering in competition with private courier companies.
International Removals with The Moving Partnership
Whether you are interested in removals to America, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands or another European or international destination, The Moving Partnership can help. Our network of contacts in the international removals industry means we can source a competitive quote which will be tailored to your individual needs.
For more information, click here for European removals, or follow this link for international destinations. You can also call us on 0800 772 3709.
FAQS:
Q: How well does the UK Postal Service fare?
A: The British postal service is usually in the top 10 when it comes to international surveys. Currently called the Royal Mail, it is one of the oldest services in existence, dating back to King Henry VIII, who effectively established it in 1516.
Q: Aside from transporting your possessions, what other services does Moving Partnership offer?
A: We can offer a number of additional services, which can be included in your quote. These include packing and unpacking, insurance, and video surveys to kickstart the whole process.
- All information is correct at the time of writing (December 2025).
