Skip to main content
Postal Systems Worldwide

Germany's PLZ: Postleitzahl from 1941 to Today

Germany pioneered postal codes in 1941. Today's 5-digit PLZ system, unified after reunification, serves as a model for precise mail routing.

## The World's First Postal Code

Germany introduced the world's first postal code system in 1941. The original **Postleitzahl (PLZ)** was a 2-digit code designed to speed military and civilian mail during World War II.

After the war, East and West Germany developed separate systems: both used 4-digit codes, leading to duplicate numbers across the divided country.

## Reunification and the 5-Digit PLZ

On July 1, 1993 — three years after German reunification — a completely new 5-digit PLZ system replaced both legacy systems.

| Era | Format | Count |
|-----|--------|-------|
| 1941-1962 | 2 digits | ~24 |
| 1962-1993 (West) | 4 digits | ~2,800 |
| 1965-1993 (East) | 4 digits | ~1,000 |
| 1993-present | 5 digits | ~8,200 |

## Structure

The first digit divides Germany into 10 zones (Leitzonen):

| Digit | Region |
|-------|--------|
| 0 | Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt |
| 1 | Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
| 2 | Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen |
| 3 | Hanover region, parts of Hesse |
| 4 | Düsseldorf, Ruhr Area |
| 5 | Cologne, Bonn, Aachen |
| 6 | Frankfurt, Saarland |
| 7 | Stuttgart, Baden |
| 8 | Munich, Bavaria (south) |
| 9 | Nuremberg, Bavaria (north) |

## Precision and Usage

Germany's ~8,200 PLZ codes serve 84 million people, making each code serve roughly 10,000 people on average. This is comparable to the US ZIP code density.

PLZ codes are essential for:

- **E-commerce shipping** — DHL, Hermes, and DPD use PLZ for routing
- **Insurance rates** — Auto and home insurance vary by PLZ
- **Market research** — GfK consumer data is indexed by PLZ
- **Emergency services** — PLZ helps route 112 calls

## The Rolf the Postman Campaign

When the new system launched in 1993, Deutsche Post ran a massive campaign starring **Rolf** the cartoon postman — Germany's answer to Mr. ZIP. The campaign cost DM 80 million and included TV spots, print ads, and free PLZ directories mailed to every household.

Key Terms

PLZ Postal Code

Related Tools

ZIP Code Lookup

Look up any ZIP code or postal code to find city, state, county, demographics, and geographic coordinates.

Related Stories

UK Postcodes: The Alphanumeric System Explained

How UK postcodes work: alphanumeric format, outward/inward codes, postcode areas, and comparison with US ZIP codes.

Canada's Postal Code System: FSA and LDU

Canada's postal code system: the A1A 1A1 format, Forward Sortation Areas, Local Delivery Units, and urban vs rural codes.

Japan's 7-Digit Postal Code System

Japan's 7-digit postal code system: structure, regions, the 〒 symbol, and how codes map to Japanese addresses.

India's PIN Code: 6 Digits Serving 1.4 Billion People

India's PIN code system: 6-digit structure, 9 postal regions, 155,000 post offices, and how codes serve 1.4 billion people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I learn more about postal code systems?
ZipFYI's Stories section features in-depth articles about postal code systems worldwide, their history, how they work, and why they matter. Topics range from the origins of ZIP codes to how modern postal systems handle millions of packages daily.
How do postal code systems evolve over time?
Postal code systems evolve to accommodate population growth, urbanization, and changes in mail volume. New codes are created when areas develop, codes may be reassigned when delivery routes change, and entire systems can be reformed (as Ireland did with Eircode in 2015).
Why are postal codes important for businesses?
Businesses use postal codes for shipping and logistics, sales tax calculation, market analysis, customer demographics, delivery zone determination, insurance underwriting, and compliance with regulations. Accurate postal codes reduce delivery failures and improve customer experience.
How do postal codes relate to demographics?
In the US, the Census Bureau links demographic data to ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). This enables analysis of population, income, education, housing, and commute patterns at the postal code level. Marketers, researchers, and policy makers rely on this data extensively.
What is geocoding and how does it relate to postal codes?
Geocoding converts addresses and postal codes into geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude). It enables mapping, distance calculations, delivery routing, and spatial analysis. Postal codes serve as a common input for geocoding services because they provide approximate location data.