List of members of the Universal Postal Union

  Member states

  Member states both through their sovereign state and as individual members

  Observer states

  Non-member states represented by a member state

The 192 members of the Universal Postal Union are listed below in alphabetical order, with the date of membership. ^[1] Members are the Vatican City and the 193 UN members except Andorra, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. The newest member is South Sudan, which joined on 4 October 2011.

Before 10 July 1964, states became members of the UPU by ratifying the latest version of the Treaty of Bern. After this date, states become members by ratifying the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union, which incorporated the Treaty of Bern and added provisions to it. Three states that were party to the Treaty of Bern in 1964, and hence members of the UPU, and which have signed but never ratified the Constitution are the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Sudan. ^[2] These states are deemed to have "tacitly ratified" the agreement due to their continued participation in the UPU. ^[3] Also included as members are two "joint memberships" for dependent territories (one for the British overseas territories and one for the Caribbean constituent countries (Dutch : landen) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten), originally as Netherlands Antilles). Dependent territories are not permitted to ratify the UPU Constitution, but because the Treaty of Bern allowed for dependencies to join the UPU, ^[3] listing these members separately as "Colonies, Protectorates, etc.", ^[4] the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union grandfathered them when membership was restricted to sovereign states. ^{[3] [5]} However, neither the British nor the Dutch entities ratified the Treaty of Bern separate from the ratifications of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, respectively.

By virtue of article 23 of the UPU Constitution, other dependencies of a UPU member state are covered by the membership of that state. Territories covered by a sovereign member state are listed under that state.

A

• Afghanistan – 1 April 1928
•   Albania – 1 March 1922 ^{[Note 1]}
•   Algeria – 1 October 1907 ^{[Note 2]}
•   Angola – 1 March 1977
•   Antigua and Barbuda – 20 January 1994
•   Argentina – 1 April 1878
•   Armenia – 14 October 1992
•   Australia – 1 October 1907
  •   Norfolk Island
•   Austria – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 3]}
•   Azerbaijan – 1 April 1993

B

•   Bahamas – 24 April 1974
•   Bahrain – 21 December 1973
•   Bangladesh – 7 February 1973
•   Barbados – 11 November 1967
•   Belarus – 13 May 1947 ^{[Note 4]}
•   Belgium – 1 July 1875
•   Belize – 1 October 1982
•   Benin – 27 April 1961 ^{[Note 5]}
•   Bhutan – 7 March 1969
•   Bolivia – 1 April 1886
•   Bosnia and Herzegovina – 26 January 1993
•   Botswana – 12 January 1968
•   Brazil – 1 July 1877 ^{[Note 6]}
•   Brunei – 15 January 1985
• British overseas territories – 1 July 1875 (UK membership), 1 April 1877 (Independent membership) ^{[Note 7]}

•   Anguilla
•   Bermuda
•   British Indian Ocean Territory
•   British Virgin Islands
•   Cayman Islands
•   Falkland Islands
•   Gibraltar
•   Montserrat
•   Pitcairn Islands
•   South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
•   Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Dependencies of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

• Saint Helena
• Ascension
• Tristan da Cunha

•   Turks and Caicos Islands

•   Bulgaria – 1 July 1879 ^{[Note 8]}
•   Burkina Faso – 29 March 1963 ^{[Note 9]}
•   Burundi – 6 April 1963 ^{[Note 10]}

C

•   Cambodia – 21 December 1951 ^{[Note 11]}
•   Cameroon – 26 July 1960
•   Canada – 1 July 1878
•   Cape Verde – 30 September 1976
•   Central African Republic – 28 June 1961
•   Chad – 23 June 1961
•   Chile – 1 April 1881
•   China – 1 March 1914 ^{[Note 12]}
  •   Hong Kong ^{[Note 13]} – 1 April 1877
  • Macau
•   Colombia – 1 July 1881
•   Comoros – 29 July 1976
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the – 1 January 1886 ^{[Note 14]}
• Congo, Republic of – 5 July 1961
•   Costa Rica – 1 January 1883
•   Ivory Coast – 23 May 1961
•   Croatia – 20 July 1992
•   Cuba – 4 October 1902
•   Cyprus – 23 November 1961
• Czechia – 18 March 1993

D

•   Denmark – 1 July 1875
  •   Faroe Islands
  •   Greenland
•   Djibouti – 6 June 1978
•   Dominica – 31 January 1980
•   Dominican Republic – 1 October 1880 ^{[Note 15]}

E

•   Ecuador – 1 July 1880
•   Egypt – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 16]}
•   El Salvador – 1 April 1879
•   Equatorial Guinea – 24 July 1970
•   Eritrea – 19 August 1993
•   Estonia – 30 April 1992 ^{[Note 17]}
• Eswatini - 7 November 1969 ^{[Note 18]}
•   Ethiopia – 1 November 1908 ^{[Note 19]}

F

•   Fiji – 18 June 1971
•   Finland – 12 February 1918
  • Åland Islands
•   France – 1 January 1876

French Overseas Departments

• French Guiana
• Guadeloupe (including Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin)
• Martinique
• Reunion
• Mayotte
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Territories coming within the UPU's jurisdiction by virtue of article 23 of the UPU Constitution

•   French Polynesia (including Clipperton Island)
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• New Caledonia
• Wallis and Futuna

G

•   Gabon – 17 July 1961
•   Gambia – 9 October 1974
•   Georgia – 1 April 1993
•   Germany – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 20]}
•   Ghana – 10 October 1957
•   Greece – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 21]}
•   Grenada – 30 January 1978
•   Guatemala – 1 August 1881
•   Guinea – 6 May 1959
•   Guinea-Bissau – 30 May 1974
•   Guyana – 22 March 1967

H

•   Haiti – 1 July 1881
•   Honduras – 1 April 1879 ^{[Note 15]}
•   Hungary – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 22]}

I

•   Iceland – 15 November 1919 ^{[Note 23]}
•   India – 1 July 1876 ^{[Note 24]}
•   Indonesia – 1 May 1877 ^{[Note 25]}
•   Iran – 1 September 1877 ^{[Note 26]}
•   Iraq – 22 April 1929 ^{[Note 27]}
•   Ireland – 6 September 1923 ^{[Note 28]}
•   Israel – 24 December 1949
•   Italy – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 29]}

J

•   Jamaica – 29 August 1963
•   Japan – 1 June 1877 ^{[Note 30]}
•   Jordan – 16 May 1947

K

•   Kazakhstan – 27 August 1992
•   Kenya – 27 October 1964
•   Kiribati – 14 August 1984
• Korea, Democratic People's Republic of – 6 June 1974
• Korea, Republic of – 1 January 1900 ^{[Note 31]}
•   Kuwait – 16 February 1960
•   Kyrgyzstan – 26 January 1993

L

•   Laos – 20 May 1952 ^{[Note 32]}
•   Latvia – 17 June 1992 ^{[Note 33]}
•   Lebanon – 15 May 1946
•   Lesotho – 6 September 1967
•   Liberia – 1 April 1879
•   Libya – 4 June 1952 ^{[Note 34]}
•   Liechtenstein – 13 April 1962
•   Lithuania – 10 January 1992 ^{[Note 35]}
•   Luxembourg – 1 July 1875

M

•   Madagascar – 2 November 1961
•   Malawi – 25 October 1966
•   Malaysia – 17 January 1958 ^{[Note 36]}
•   Maldives – 15 August 1967
•   Mali – 21 April 1961
•   Malta – 21 May 1965
•   Mauritania – 22 March 1967
•   Mauritius – 29 August 1969
•   Mexico – 1 April 1879
•   Moldova – 16 November 1992
•   Monaco – 12 October 1955
•   Mongolia – 24 August 1963 ^{[Note 37]}
•   Montenegro – 26 July 2006
•   Morocco – 1 October 1920 ^{[Note 38]}
•   Mozambique – 11 October 1978
•   Myanmar – 4 October 1949 ^{[Note 39]}

N

•   Namibia – 30 April 1992
•   Nauru – 17 April 1969
•   Nepal – 11 October 1956 ^{[Note 40]}
•   Netherlands – 1 July 1875
• Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten – 1 July 1875 (Netherlands membership), 1 May 1877 (Independent membership) ^{[Note 7] [Note 41]}
  •   Aruba
  •   Curaçao
  •   Sint Maarten
•   New Zealand (including the Ross Dependency) – 1 October 1907
  •   Cook Islands (Free Association with New Zealand)
  •   Niue (Free Association with New Zealand)
  •   Tokelau
•   Nicaragua – 1 May 1882
•   Niger – 12 June 1961
•   Nigeria – 10 July 1961
• North Macedonia – 12 July 1993 ^{[Note 42]}
•   Norway – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 43]}

O

•   Oman – 17 August 1971

P

•   Pakistan – 10 November 1947
•   Panama – 11 June 1904
•   Papua New Guinea – 4 June 1976
•   Paraguay – 1 July 1881
•   Peru – 1 April 1879
•   Philippines – 1 January 1922
•   Poland – 1 May 1919
•   Portugal – 1 July 1875

Q

•   Qatar – 31 January 1969

R

•   Romania – 1 July 1875
•   Russia – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 44]}
•   Rwanda – 6 April 1963

S

•   Saint Kitts and Nevis – 11 January 1988
•   Saint Lucia – 10 July 1980
•   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 3 February 1981
•   Samoa – 9 August 1989 ^{[Note 45]}
•   San Marino – 1 July 1915
•   São Tomé and Príncipe – 22 August 1977
•   Saudi Arabia – 1 January 1927 ^{[Note 46]}
•   Senegal – 14 June 1961
•   Serbia – 9 October 1875 ^{[Note 47]}
•   Seychelles – 7 October 1977
•   Sierra Leone – 29 January 1962
•   Singapore – 8 January 1966
•   Slovakia – 18 March 1993
•   Slovenia – 27 August 1992
•   Solomon Islands – 4 May 1984
•   Somalia – 1 April 1959 ^{[Note 48]}
•   South Africa – 22 August 1994
•   South Sudan – 4 October 2011 ^[10]
•   Spain – 1 July 1875
•   Sri Lanka – 13 July 1949
•   Sudan – 28 July 1956 ^{[Note 15]}
•   Suriname – 20 April 1976
•   Sweden – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 49]}
•   Switzerland – 1 July 1875
•   Syria – 15 May 1946 ^{[Note 50]}

T

•   Tajikistan – 9 June 1994
•   Tanzania – 29 March 1963 ^{[Note 51]}
•   Thailand – 1 July 1885 ^{[Note 52]}
•   Timor-Leste – 28 November 2003
•   Togo – 21 March 1962
•   Tonga (including Niuafo'ou) – 26 January 1972
•   Trinidad and Tobago – 15 June 1963
•   Tunisia – 1 July 1888 ^{[Note 53]}
•   Turkey – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 54]}
•   Turkmenistan – 26 January 1993
•   Tuvalu – 3 February 1981

U

•   Uganda – 13 February 1964
•   Ukraine – 13 May 1947 ^{[Note 55]}
•   United Arab Emirates – 30 March 1973
•   United Kingdom – 1 July 1875

The Crown dependencies of the United Kingdom are not members of the UPU, and are represented by the United Kingdom

•   Guernsey
•   Isle of Man
•   Jersey

•   United States – 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 56]}

Territories coming within the UPU's jurisdiction by virtue of article 23 of the UPU Constitution

•   Guam
•   Puerto Rico
•   American Samoa
•   United States Virgin Islands
•   Northern Mariana Islands

•   Uruguay – 1 July 1880
•   Uzbekistan – 24 February 1994

V

•   Vanuatu – 16 July 1982
•   Vatican City – 1 June 1929
•   Venezuela – 1 January 1880
•   Vietnam – 20 October 1951 ^{[Note 57]}

Y

•   Yemen – 1 January 1930 ^{[Note 58]}

Z

•   Zambia – 22 March 1967
•   Zimbabwe – 31 July 1981

Observer states

• Palestine – Has special observer status to the UPU since 1999, West Bank mail delivered through Jordan since 2008. ^{[15] [16]} From ^{[ when? ]} up to 2010 Gaza strip mail was delivered through Israel. ^[17] On 15 November 2018, the president of the State of Palestine signed documents to accede to the UPU as a full member. ^[18] However, UPU member states did not approve the application. ^[19]

States not participating in UPU activities

In general areas governed by organizations that are not members of the UPU, must have their international mail handled by a member state. ^[20]

•   Andorra ^[21] – mail routed through France or Spain.
•   Marshall Islands (mail transportation handled by the United States Postal Service)
•   Federated States of Micronesia (mail transportation handled by the United States Postal Service)
•   Palau (mail transportation handled by the United States Postal Service)

Entities not participating in UPU activities

• Order of Malta mail routed through Italy. Additionally, its stamps are accepted by 57 UPU members. ^[22]

States with limited recognition

Further information: List of states with limited recognition

These states need to have their mail routed through third countries as the UPU will not allow direct international deliveries. ^[20]

• Somaliland mail routed through Ethiopia ^[23]
• Northern Cyprus mail routed through Turkey ^[20]
• Kosovo mail routed through Serbia ^[20]
• Abkhazia mail routed through Russia ^[20]
• South Ossetia mail routed through Russia ^[20]
• Transnistria mail routed through Moldova ^[20]
• Sahrawi Republic mail routed through Algeria ^[20]
•   Taiwan (Republic of China) mail routed through Japan and the United States ^{[Note 12] [Note 59] [24]}

Former member countries of the UPU

In the course of history a number of member countries of the UPU saw their membership lapse, due to political changes. Where there was an immediate successor state, membership would normally devolve on that state. In other cases membership lapsed.

• Kingdom of Hawaii – 1 January 1882 – 14 June 1900 ^{[25] [26]} (organized as the Territory of Hawaii, an organized incorporated territory of the United States)
• Orange Free State – 1 January 1898 – 31 May 1902 ^{[Note 60]}
• South African Republic – 1 January 1895 – 31 May 1902 ^{[Note 61]}
• Gold Coast – January 1879 ^[29] – 1957 (became Ghana)
• Czechoslovakia From 18 May 1920 – Slovakia and the Czech Republic ratified the treaty after Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1992. Wartime Slovakia (1939–1945) ratified the Universal Postal Treaty and all its protocols on 5/8/1941.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Yugoslavia (country ceased to exist in 1992)
• Independent State of Croatia 1941–1945 (country ceased to exist)
• Republic of China – 1 March 1914 – 1 October 1949 (politically ceased to exist; confined to Taiwan from 7 December 1949) ^{[Note 12]}
• Korean Empire – 1 January 1900 – 29 August 1910 (annexed by Japan)
• South Vietnam (country ceased to exist in 1975)
• East Germany From 1 July 1875 ^{[Note 62]} (country ceased to exist in 1990)
• South Yemen (country ceased to exist in 1990)

See also

• List of postal entities, a list of the postal authorities and operators of UPU members.

Notes

1. Ratified as the Principality of Albania.
2. Ratified as French Algeria.
3. Ratified as Austria-Hungary.
4. Ratified as the Byelorussian SSR.
5. Ratified as the Republic of Dahomey.
6. Ratified as the Empire of Brazil.
7. Dependent territory whose membership was grandfathered in by the Constitution. ^[3]
8. Ratified as the Tsardom of Bulgaria.
9. Ratified as Upper Volta.
10. Ratified as the Kingdom of Burundi.
11. Ratified while a French protectorate.
12. China was originally represented by the government of the Republic of China from 1 March 1914. Following the United Nations General Assembly's vote to transfer China's seat to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1971, China's representation at the UPU was likewise switched to the PRC on 13 April 1972.
13. Hong Kong was part of the British Overseas Territories joint membership from 1 April 1877 to 1 July 1997. ^[6] Hong Kong continues to participate in the Universal Postal Union after the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to China on 1 July 1997. ^[7]
14. Ratified as the Congo Free State.
15. State which became a UPU member by ratifying the Treaty of Bern and which signed the Constitution, but which has not ratified it. ^[2] These states are deemed to have "tacitly ratified" the agreement due to their continued participation in the UPU. ^[3]
16. Ratified as the Khedivate of Egypt.
17. Originally joined on 7 July 1922 prior to Soviet occupation ^[8]
18. As Swaziland until 2018.
19. Ratified as the Ethiopian Empire.
20. Ratified as the German Empire.
21. Ratified as the Kingdom of Greece.
22. Ratified as Austria-Hungary.
23. Ratified as the Kingdom of Iceland.
24. Ratified as the British India.
25. Ratified as the Dutch East Indies.
26. Ratified as the Sublime State of Iran.
27. Ratified as the Kingdom of Iraq under British Administration.
28. Ratified as the Irish Free State.
29. Ratified as the Kingdom of Italy.
30. Ratified as the Empire of Japan.
31. Ratified as the Korean Empire.
32. Ratified as the Kingdom of Laos.
33. Originally joined on 1 October 1921 prior to Soviet occupation ^[8]
34. Ratified as the Kingdom of Libya.
35. Originally joined on 1 January 1922 prior to Soviet occupation ^{[8] [9]}
36. Ratified as the Federation of Malaya.
37. Ratified as the Mongolian People's Republic.
38. Ratified while a French protectorate.
39. Ratified as the Union of Burma.
40. Ratified as the Kingdom of Nepal.
41. These three entities are constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but have a joint UPU membership separate of that of the Netherlands. Prior to the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, Aruba and the then-Netherlands Antilles shared a common UPU membership. Upon dissolution, Curaçao and Sint Maarten became constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, now collectively known as the Caribbean Netherlands, became parts of the Netherlands proper.
42. Under the provisional designation of "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" until 2019.
43. Ratified as the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway.
44. Ratified as the Russian Empire. Continued membership as the Soviet Union from 1922–1991.
45. Ratified as Western Samoa.
46. Ratified as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd.
47. Ratified as the Principality of Serbia. Continued membership as the Yugoslavia 1918–2003.
48. At the time split between the Trust Territory of Somaliland and British Somaliland.
49. Ratified as the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway.
50. Ratified as the Syrian Republic.
51. Ratified as   Tanganyika .
52. Ratified as the Kingdom of Siam.
53. Ratified as the Regency of Tunis.
54. Ratified as the Ottoman Empire.
55. Ratified as the Ukrainian SSR.
56. On 17 October 2018 the United States notified the UPU of its intention to withdraw from the union, which as per terms of the UPU constitution would become effective after one year. ^{[11] [12]} However, the country indicated that it would be willing to remain a member if treaty arrangements which it finds problematic (the low terminal dues charged to developing countries to ship mail to developed countries) could be renegotiated during the course of the withdrawal period. ^[13] In October 2019, following an Extraordinary Congress of the UPU which agreed to increase terminal dues, the United States opted to remain a member of the UPU. ^[14]
57. Ratified as the State of Vietnam.
58. Ratified as the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.
59. Mail for Taiwan was also previously routed through Hong Kong. International reply coupons are not available for Taiwan.
60. The Orange Free State acceded to the Postal Convention of Vienna in 1898, and a year later also acceded to that of Washington. ^[27] The state was dissolved at the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging. Membership did not lapse but was absorbed into the British South African membership.
61. The South African Republic was a member from 1895 ^[28] until its dissolution at the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging. Membership did not lapse but was absorbed into the British South African membership.
62. Ratified as part of the German Empire.

References

1. "Member countries". Universal Postal Union . Retrieved 2013-02-16.
2. "List of member countries of the Universal Postal Union" (PDF). Universal Postal Union. 2014-07-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
3. "Constitution General Regulations" (PDF). Universal Postal Union. 2010. pp. XII. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-05. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
4. "Universal Postal Convention". Universal Postal Union. 1952-07-11. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
5. "Constitution of the Universal Postal Union". Universal Postal Union. 1964-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
6. "Information page for British Overseas Territories on the UPU web site".
7. "Information page for Hong Kong on the UPU web site".
8. "CONSTITUTION & GENERAL REGULATIONS". Universal Postal Union. ICANN. October 11, 2000. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
9. Žalimas, Dainius (2002). "Legal Issues on the Continuity of the Republic of Lithuania". Baltic yearbook of international law: 2001. Vol. 1. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 17. ISBN   9041117369.
10. "South Sudan (Rep.)". Member countries. UPU. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
11. "Statement from the Press Secretary". Executive Office of the President of the United States. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
12. "Statement on the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union treaties". Universal Postal Union. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
13. "Trump starts leaving postal union in latest anti-China move" . Retrieved 2018-10-17.
14. "The US is staying in the UPU, but global postal rate changes are coming".
15. "Palestinian parcel post gets a boost". Universal Postal Union (UPU). Retrieved 2010-09-26.
16. "Israel and Palestinians to boost postal services with help from UN agency". United Nations. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
17. "Statement regarding mail destined for the Gaza Strip". Canada Post. 2010-08-20. Archived from the original on 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
18. "President signs accession papers to a number of international organizations". Wafa. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
19. "UPU issues statement on membership application from State of Palestine". Universal Postal Union. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
20. "Members of the Universal Postal Union and Their Join Dates" (PDF). United Postal Stationery Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2017.
21. "Andorra führt Postleitzahlen ein" (in German). Andorra Intern. 2004-02-27. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
22. Sovereign Order of Malta — Associate Countries (Postal Agreements)
23. "Postal Power". One Radio Network. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017.
24. Chen, Lung-chu (8 October 2008). 萬國郵政聯盟與世界郵政日 [Universal Postal Union and World Post Day]. Taiwan New Century Culture and Education Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
25. "UPU Period". Post Office in Paradise. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
26. "Application of Hawaii to enter Postal Union". Trove. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
27. du Toit Spies, François Jacobus (1946). 'n Nederlander in diens van die Oranje-Vrystaat (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger. p. 67. LCCN   a47000226. OCLC   13561098.
28. du Toit Spies, François Jacobus (1946). 'n Nederlander in diens van die Oranje-Vrystaat (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger. p. 66. LCCN   a47000226. OCLC   13561098.
29. Rossiter, Stuart & John Flower. The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald, 1986. ISBN   0-356-10862-7

Further reading

• List of member countries of the Universal Postal Union: showing their contribution class, geographical group and legal situation with regard to the Acts of the Union. Bern: International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, 2005 13p.