Postal code

A postal code is a series of letters and numbers appended to an postal address[?] for the purpose of sorting mail. Every nation has a different format and placement for the postal code.

Here are some postal code formats:

Key: Ns are numbers. Ls are letters.

Australia

known as the post code: NNNN. In general, the first digit gives the state. (2 = NSW & ACT, 3 = Vic, 4 = Qld, 5 = SA, 6 = WA, 7 = Tas, 0 = NT.)

Austria

NNNN (the first digit denotes one of the nine provinces -- called Bundesländer -- , the last the nearest post office in the area)

Belgium

NNNN (in general, the first digit gives the province)

Brazil

NNNNN-NNN

Canada

LNL NLN (the first letter is for a region - province, part of a province, or large city)

France

NNNNN, the first two digits give the departement number

Germany

NNNNN since 1993. Before that date, it were only 4 digits.

Japan

NNN-NNNN

Mexico

NNNNN

Netherlands

NNNN LL

Poland

NN-NNN

Switzerland

NNNN

UK

known as the postcode: LN NLL, LLN NLL, LNN NLL, or LLNN NLL but other variants are also used. In general the first letter(s) indicate the town, or area, or part of London. See London postal districts for more.

USA

known as the zip code: NNNNN-NNNN (although for most personal mail, only the first five numbers are used). The first three digits represent a postal zone (for example, 100NN, 101NN and 102NN represent Manhattan in New York, New York). The next two digits represent the post office. The final four digits represent the delivery point within the 5-digit zipcode.

See Also Universal Postal Union.