Highlights. An estimated 356 billion packages shipped worldwide in 2023; projections indicate that 498 billion packages will ship in 2028.
- In 2022, 338 billion packages shipped worldwide.
- Global shipping revenue totaled $1.02 trillion in 2022; projections indicate that shipping and delivery services will net $1.5 trillion in 2028.
- 21.2 billion packages shipped in the U.S. in 2022; projections indicate that as many as 32.0 billion packages will ship in 2028.
- U.S. shipping revenue totaled $198 billion in 2022; projections indicate that shipping and delivery services will net $284 billion in 2028.
- 42 packages per person shipped worldwide in 2022; U.S. parcels shipped at a rate of 64 packages per person.
- From 2017 to 2022, the number of packages the average American received in a year increased by 73%.
| U.S. packages | Global packages* | Division |
|---|---|---|
| 672 | 10,747 | per Second |
| 40,335 | 644,877 | per Minute |
| 2,420,091 | 38,692,621 | per Hour |
| 58,082,192 | 928,622,927 | per Day |
| 407,692,308 | 6,518,218,623 | per Week |
| 1,766,666,667 | 28,245,614,035 | per Month |
| 5,300,000,000 | 84,736,842,105 | per Quarter |
| 21,200,000,000 | 338,947,368,421 | per Year |
*Estimate based on Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index.
Global Shipping & Package Delivery Statistics
While shipping volume increases, the cost per package declines.
- Worldwide, the average person received 42 packages in 2022.
- The global per-person package volume increased 2.38% year-over-year (YoY).
- The average person received 41 packages in 2021, up 20.6% YoY.
- From 2013 to 2022, shipments per person increased at an average annual rate of 35.6%.
- In 2022, the global cost per package was $3.01, down 24.1% since 2016.
National Shipping & Package Delivery Statistics
While shipping volumes per person have declined recently, the long-term trend is for the average American to receive more packages every year.
- The average American household received 162 packages in 2022, down 2.41% YoY.
- U.S. package deliveries totaled 166 parcels per household in 2021.
- Americans receive packages at a 55% higher rate than the global average.
- Parcels-per-person declined 2.20% from 2021 to 2022 (from 65 to 63.6 packages per person).
- The average cost per package was $9.33 in 2022, up 6.75% YoY.
- From 2017 to 2021, the average cost per package increased 8.34% to $8.74.
Shipping & Package Delivery Consumer Statistics
Consumers are willing to sacrifice delivery speed for free shipping.
- 88% of online consumers value free shipping more than fast shipping.
- Online consumers are six (6) times more likely to value free shipping over fast shipping.
- 50% of consumers have abandoned their online shopping cart due to shipping and delivery options.
- 45% of consumers consider 2-day delivery to be fast.
- 35% of consumers consider fast shipping to take 3-4 days.
Shipping & Package Delivery Firm Statistics
Four major carriers handle virtually all U.S. parcel shipments.
- The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Amazon Logistics, UPS, and FedEx handle 98% of all domestic shipments.
- The four main carriers net 98% of market revenue.
- The majority of shipments (32%) go through USPS, though this share is in long-term decline.
- From 2017 to 2022, the USPS share of domestic package volume declined 26.5%.
USPS
The United States Postal Services ships the majority of parcels in the U.S. (7.2 billion in 2022).
- USPS ships 23.8 million packages per day, equivalent to 991,667 per hour, 16,528 per minute, or 275.5 per second.
- USPS package volume declined 5.26% from 2021 to 2022 and could total 8.35 billion shipments in 2025.
- The average American received 20 packages via the U.S. Postal Service in 2022
- USPS 2022 annual operating revenue totals $78.8 billion, up 2.34% YoY.
- Projections indicate annual operating revenue could total $84.9 billion in 2025.
- USPS retail revenue totals $12.2 billion, down 6.15% YoY.
- Projections indicate that USPS retail revenue could total $11.8 billion in 2025.
Amazon Logistics
The fastest-growing of the major carriers, Amazon Logistics shipped 4.8 billion packages in 2022.
- Amazon Logistics ships 13.2 million packages per day, equivalent to 547,945 per hour, 9,132 per minute, or 152 per second.
- 22.6% of all packages shipped in 2022 went through Amazon Logistics.
- The average American received 14 packages via Amazon Logistics in 2022.
- Amazon Logistics’ package volume declined 0.2% from 2021 to 2022.
- From 2017 to 2021, Amazon Logistics’ package volume increased 537%.
- Based on its 12% domestic market share, Amazon Logistics revenue for 2022 totaled $23.7 billion, up 14.8% YoY.
UPS
The UPS share of market volume and industry revenue has remained steady, with 5.2 billion parcels shipped in 2022.
- UPS ships 14.2 million packages per day, equivalent to 593,607 per hour, 9,893 per minute, or 165 per second.
- 24.5% of 2022 package shipments went through UPS.
- The average American received 16 packages via UPS in 2022.
- UPS package volume declined 1.89% from 2021 to 2022.
- Based on its 37% market share, UPS revenue totaled $73.2 billion in 2022, up 5.23% YoY.
FedEx
Federal Express is the smallest of the four carriers in terms of parcel volume (4.1 billion in 2022), but in terms of domestic market share, it is the second largest.
- FedEx ships 11.2 million packages per day, equivalent to 468,037 per hour, 7,801 per minute, or 130 per second.
- 19.8% of all U.S. packages shipped in 2022 went through FedEx.
- The average American received 12 packages via FedEx in 2022.
- FedEx package volume declined 4.65% from 2021 to 2022.
- Based on its 33% domestic market share, FedEx revenue totaled $65.3 billion in 2022, up 5.23% YoY.
Independent Carriers
Collectively, smaller carriers increased their package volume by a much more significant margin than any of the four major companies.
- In 2022, independent carriers shipped approximately 500 million packages per year.
- Independent companies ship 1.37 million packages per day, equivalent to 57,078 per hour, 951 per minute, or 16 per second.
- Collectively, independent carriers increased their package volume 25.0% from 2021 to 2022.
- 2.36% of 2022 package shipments went through independent carriers.
- The average American received 1.5 packages via independent carriers in 2022.
- Based on a 2.0% market share, independent carriers made a collective $3.96 billion in 2022, up 5.23% YoY.
These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.
Sources
- United Nations, Population Division
- The World Bank, Data: Population
- National Retail Federation, Delivery Drives Business
- Pitney Bowes, Global Parcel Shipping Index
- U.S. Postal Service, Postal Facts
- Statista, Transportation & Logistics
- U.S. Census Bureau