13 October 1995

This is a general description of the postal code formats used in
various countries of the world. This is not a worldwide listing of
postal codes, but rather an idea as to general structure and format,
plus the major code zones and special interest items.

This file may be obtained via WWW at http://www.magma.ca/~djcl/postcd.txt

The country is listed, followed by the format (a # represents a number,
an @ represents an alphabetic character), then other details on the format.

The format may have a preceding country code as indicated in thr format
in brackets (such as [A-] for Austria). Within the CEPT (Communaute
Europeenne des Postes et Telegraphes?) number-only postal codes may be
prefixed with the country code as defined by the UN Convention on Road
Traffic (1949, in force 1952) in lieu of the name of the country on the
last line. See individual countries for an indicator of a country code
preceding the postal code. (1)

Descriptions may contain "wild card" characters of # or @, representing
digits or letters accordingly. Thus 3### means postal codes from 3000
to 3999. Such wild card designations are only an indication of format;
not all of the possible numbers are necessarily assigned postal codes
within a given country.

The [postfix] identifier after the format will indicate which countries
have their postal code as a "postfix" after the city/town name. Otherwise,
postal codes appear before the place name. (1)

The rest of the net is invited to pitch in and fix/embellish this listing
so that more countries are represented and that those countries have their
postal coding systems described in sufficient detail.

Updates: mail to djcl@magma.ca

........................................................................
Algeria
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Andorra

E-257##  (presumably Spanish-based)
F-66720  (presumably France-based)

The French F-66720 code seems to be the more official code.
More documentary evidence is needed to determine French and
Spanish code usage, and whether one code is official, or both.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Argentina
####

1000 Buenos Aires
2000 Rosario
3000 Santa Fe'
9000 Comodoro Rivadavia

In 1990 a new 5-digit code format was announced, to replace the
present 4-digit codes, which was subsequently delayed to 1992.
No word reported on the status of 5-digit codes.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Armenia
######
(2)
........................................................................
Australia
####  [postfix]

The first digit often corresponds to the state. The four digits as a
whole will identify a place or post office.

First digits and States (most cases; some exceptions exist):

08## NT  2### NSW+ACT  3### Vic.  4### Qld.  5### SA  6### WA  7### Tas.

Example exceptions include 0872 for Ernabella and Fregon in SA (rather
than in NT), or 4825 Brunette Downs NT (rather than in Qld).

(2,6)
........................................................................
Austria
[A-]####

Vienna street address codes are 1##0, where ## is the Bezirk number
(from 01 to 19).

(1)
........................................................................
Azerbaijan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Bahrain
###
####

Variable 3-4 digit codes apparently.

(2)
........................................................................
Bangladesh
####
(2)
........................................................................
Belarus
(unknown)

Had former USSR post codes. UPU & ITU sources give addresses without codes.

Country code is [BY-] but no idea if it's used

(2,8)
........................................................................
Belgium
[B-]####

Some code ranges:

10## Brussels
2000 Antwerpen
3000 Leuven
3500 Hasselt
4000 Liege
5000 Namur
6000 Charleroi
6700 Arlon
7000 Mons
8000 Brugge
8400 Oostende
9000 Gent

(1,8)
........................................................................
Bermuda
@@ ##
@@ @@ (for post box addresses)

The first two letters indicate post office:

BY Baileys Bay           CR Crawl               DD St David's
DV Devonshire            FL Flatts              GE St George
HM Hamilton              HS Harrington Sound    MA Mangrove Bay
PG Paget                 SB Somerset Bridge     SN Southampton
WK Warwick

The last two characters are numbers indicating the route of delivery.
If the address is a postal box, the last two characters are usually
"BX" except in Hamilton where the code is "AX" to "JX" (last character
is X) depending on box number. "GE CX" represents the Airport box numbers
(under St George post office).

The old postal code system format was #-##.

(2)
........................................................................
Bolivia
####

Information on these codes doubtful.

(2)
........................................................................
Bosnia and Hercegovina
#####

Numbering ranges 7####, 80###, 88###

(2)
........................................................................
Brazil
#####-###

Old code was just ##### (5 digit code). No word if the 5-digit format is
still in use or still usable.

Code Ranges:

01000 Sao Paulo
77000 Brasilia

(1,2)
........................................................................
Brunei Darussalam
####
(2)
........................................................................
Bulgaria
[BG-]####

BG country coding not generally used - appears very rarely in other
countries lists of country codes.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Canada
@#@ #@#  [postfix]

The first letter of a Canadian Postal Code identifies a province, or
part of a province:

A = Newfoundland          B = Nova Scotia           C = Prince Edward Island
E = New Brunswick         G = eastern Quebec        H = Metro Montreal, Quebec
J = western Quebec        K = eastern Ontario       L = central Ontario
M = Metro Toronto         N = southwestern Ontario  P = northern Ontario
R = Manitoba              S = Saskatchewan          T = Alberta
V = British Columbia      X = Northwest Territories Y = Yukon Territory

In the second position (the first number), a 0 indicates that the postal
code is for a whole post office, usually indicated for rural communities.
The 6th character (last number) is also usually a 0 in such cases (as
in L0M 1S0). All addresses for the community have that postal code,
whether these are rural routes, postal boxes or in some cases, smaller
towns with letter carrier routes. 

Other numbers for the 2nd position indicate the postal code is in a larger
urban community with letter carrier service. The postal code is thus precise
enough to identify street blocks, particular rural routes or groups of
postal boxes.

Postal Codes are always separated into two blocks of three characters.
The first three characters are the Forward Sortation Area (FSA), an
"area code" to identify a district. The last three characters thus
identify the block, postal box set, or post office within the FSA.

Some special FSAs: K1A is for federal government activities in Ottawa;
M7A represents the Ontario provincial government, G1A represents the
Quebec provincial government. One code document indicated that A9W,
A9X and A9Z were used as test FSAs (these would not be for actual
locations; likely to check equipment, etc).

H0H 0H0 is a special code used to write to "Santa Claus". This is a
special promotion prior to the Christmas holidays.

The letters D, F, I, O, Q and U are never used in a Canadian Postal
Code, due to potential conflicts with other letters or numbers.

Canada Post Corporation announced plans to extend the Postal Code by
adding extra numeric digits. This is intended to identify the exact
street number on a block. or the particular postal box. As of this
writing, none of these extended postal codes have been announced.

........................................................................
Chad
#####

A country coding of 'E' was noted, though this conflicted with Spain's
code, and was thus suspect.

(2)
........................................................................
Chile
########
(2)
........................................................................
China
######
(2)
........................................................................
Christmas Island
####
(2)
........................................................................
Cocos (Keeling) Island
####
(2)
........................................................................
Colombia

Colombia
Definitely only a city code. Not a national system

Single digit city codes for use within cities only. There is no
known national postal code system yet.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Costa Rica
#### [postfix]

1000 San Jose'

Postfix findings courtesy Marian Nelson via Alan Pritchard (2).
ITU and ISI directories have post codes listed in prefix format.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Cote d'Ivoire

Only a city code for Abidjan of format ##.
No national system exists yet.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Croatia
#####

Codes found in 4#### and 5#### series.
(No country code used for mailing purposes, although HR would
be Croatia's country coding)

(1,2)
........................................................................
Cuba
#####

A Havana town district code (format ##) may still be used.

(2)
........................................................................
Cyprus
[CY-]####

Cyprus adopted postcodes 1 Oct 1994.

The number ranges for the administrative areas are:

Nicosia:   1000-2999
Limassol:  3000-4999
Famagusta: 5000-5999
Larnaka:   6000-7999
Pafos:     8000-8999
Keryneia:  9000-9999

Note that the system covers the WHOLE island, including that area
currently called North Cyprus. There are only a few numbers detailed for
Famagusta and none at all for Keryneia.

Note also that the address instructions for incoming foreign mail ask for
the use of CY- preceding the postcode.

(2)
........................................................................
Czech Republic
### ##

Country code [CZ-] (if used) (was CS- in the former Czechoslovakia).

Uses former Czechoslovakia codes 1## ## to 7## ##

See also Slovakia.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Denmark (including Greenland)
[DK-]####

Denmark uses various town codes: C, F, J, L, M, N, NO0(N O slash), NV,
O (O slash, Unicode 00D8), S, Sj, SO0(S O slash) SV, V. These apply in
quite a number of towns - not just Copenhagen & Frederiksberg.

39## is Greenland range of numbers. Greenland is supposed to be developing
its own independent system (like the Faroes). This was announced in 1992,
but then almost immediately put on hold. When implemented it may use
[GL-] as prefix ([G-] would be defined for Gabon).

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Egypt
#####
(2)
........................................................................
El Salvador
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Estonia
[EE-]####

###### was the old USSR code format. Codes found in 2### and 3### series.

Old USSR codes were in the 20#### series.

(2)
........................................................................
Faroe Islands
[FR-]###
(1,2)
........................................................................
Finland
[FIN-]#####

FIN-22###  Aland Islands

Formerly SF-##### country code prefix format, until 1 January 1993 when
the ISO-3 code of FIN came into effect.

For example, the code FIN-80140 represents Joensuu, with the "14"
in the 3rd and 4th digits representing the 14th zone, in this
case being the suburb Noljakka.

Practically all codes end in 0, except for P.O. Box addresses, which
is that of the office, but ends in 1 instead of 0.

(1,2,4)
........................................................................
France (including St-Pierre et Miquelon, Reunion, other territories)
[F-]#####

The first two digits of the five digit code will identify the region,
or "de'partement". This is the same de'partement numbering as used on
car registration plates, and was originally based on an alphabetical
sort of the names (as established in Napoleon's times). Later, some
de'partements (90 and above) were added, and some names were changed.

A Capital (pre'fecture) normally gets a code of the form xx000.

Other main cities (including but not limited to the sous-pre'fectures)
tend to get codes of the form xxx00.

Some large cities have codes based on the "arrondissement" (neighbourhood)
within the city (formats 750##, 6900#, 1300# for Paris, Lyon, Marseille
respectively). Within Paris, the Northern half of the 16th arrondissement
is 75116 instead of 75016.

Postcodes used for individual addresses usually end with a 0, or a 5
when there are not enough codes (e.g. in Nord), except in Paris, Lyon and
Marseille where arrondissements are indicated as above. Otherwise,
postcodes ending with other digits are for business adresses with special
delivery arrangements (Cedex).

All overseas departements of France use [F-] prefix.

See also links in http://www.ensmp.fr/~scherer/adminet/comp/LaPoste.html.

Known de'partement code ranges follow:

00### Military mail
01### Ain (Bourg-en-Bresse, Gex, Nantua)
02### Aisne (Laon)
03### Allier (Moulins)
04### Alpes de Haute Provence (Digne)
05### Hautes Alpes (Gap, Briancon)
06### Alpes Maritimes (Nice)
07### Ardeche (Privas)
08### Ardennes (Charleville-Mezieres)
09### Ariege (Foix)
10### Aube (Troyes)
11### Aude (Carcassonne)
12### Aveyron (Rodez)
13### Bouches du Rhone (Marseille, Aix-en-Provence)
14### Calvados (Caen)
15### Cantal (Aurillac)
16### Charente (Angouleme)
17### Charente Maritime (La Rochelle)
18### Cher (Bourges)
19### Correze (Tulle)
20### Corse (Ajaccio, Bastia, Corte, Calvi) [now divided in two departements]
21### Cote d'Or (Dijon)
22### Cotes d'Armor (Saint Brieuc) [was named Cotes du Nord until recently;
        the old name was said to give a bad image, hampering tourism]
23### Creuse (Gueret)
24### Dordogne (Perigueux)
25### Doubs (Besancon)
26### Drome (Valence)
27### Eure (Evreux)
28### Eure-et-Loir (Chartres)
29### Finistere (Brest, Quimper)
30### Gard (Nimes)
31### Haute-Garonne (Toulouse)
32### Gers (Auch)
33### Gironde (Bordeaux)
34### Herault (Montpellier, Nimes)
35### Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes, Saint Malo)
36### (apparently unused)
37### Indre-et-Loire (Tours)
38### Isere (Grenoble)
39### Jura (Lons-le-Saunier)
40### Landes (Mont-de-Marsan)
41### Loir-et-Cher (Blois)
42### Loire (Saint Etienne, Roanne)
43### Haute-Loire (Le Puy)
44### Loire-Atlantique (Nantes)
45### Loiret (Orleans)
46### Lot (Cahors)
47### Lot-et-Garonne (Agen)
48### Lozere (Mende)
49### Maine-et-Loire (Angers)
50### Manche (Saint Lo, Cherbourg)
51### Marne (Chalons-sur-Marne)
52### Haute Marne (Chaumont)
53### Mayenne (Laval)
54### Meurthe-et-Moselle (Nancy)
55### Meuse (Bar-le-Duc)
56### Morbihan (Vannes)
57### Moselle (Metz)
58### Nievre (Nevers)
59### Nord (Lille, Valenciennes)
60### Oise (Beauvais)
61### Orne (Alencon)
62### Pas-de-Calais (Calais)
63### Puy-de-Dome (Clermont-Ferrand)
64### Pyrenees Atlantique (Pau)
65### Hautes Pyrenees (Tarbes)
66### Pyrenees Orientales (Perpignan) [and Andorre]
67### Bas Rhin (Strasbourg)
68### Haut Rhin (Colmar, Mulhouse)
69### Rhone (Lyon)
70### Haute Saone (Vesoul)
71### Saone-et-Loire (Macon)
72### Sarthe (Le Mans)
73### Savoie (Chambery, Albertville, Aix-les-Bains)
74### Haute-Savoie (Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon, Evian, Cluses)
75### Paris
76### Seine Maritime (Rouen)
77### Seine-et-Marne (Melun)
78### Yvelines (St-Germain-en-Laye, Versailles)
79### Deux-Sevres (Niort)
80### Somme (Amiens)
81### Tarn (Albi)
82### Tarn-et-Garonne (Montauban)
83### Var (Toulon) [the prefecture used to be Draguignan, a very small town]
84### Vaucluse (Avignon)
85### Vendee (La Roche-sur-Yon)
86### Vienne (Poitiers)
87### Haute-Vienne (Limoges)
88### Vosges (Epinal)
89### Yonne (Auxerre)
90### Territoire de Belfort (Belfort)
91### Essonne (Evry)
92### Hauts de Seine (Nanterre, Boulogne, St-Cloud)
93### Seine-St-Denis (Bobigny)
94### Val de Marne (Creteil)
95### Val d'Oise (Cergy-Pontoise)
96### (apparently unused)
971## Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre)
972## Martinique (Fort-de-France)
973## Guyane Francaise/French Guiana (Cayenne)
974## Reunion (Saint Denis)
975## Saint Pierre et Miquelon (Saint Pierre)
976## Mayotte
980## Principaute' de Monaco (uses MC-980##, not F-980##)
986## Wallis et Futuna
987## Polynesie Francaise
988## Nouvelle Caledonie
99### (apparently unused)

(1,2,7,8,9)
........................................................................
French Guiana
[F-]#####

Based on France system. Numbering range 973##. See also France.

(2,8)
........................................................................
French Polynesia (Polynesie Francaise)
988##

Based on France system.

(2)
........................................................................
Gaza Strip
#####

Any codes used are likely for Israeli settlements. The Palestine
administration currently has no known formal postal code system.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Georgia
######
(2)
........................................................................
Germany
[D-]#####

New 5-digit scheme introduced 1 July 1993, following re-unification of
Germany. Previously, the separate systems were in effect, with a letter
to identify the West (W) and East (O = Ost) systems.

1993 system regions:

01### Dresden
1#### Berlin
2#### Hamburg
3#### Hannover
4#### Duesseldorf
5#### Koeln
6#### Frankfurt am Main
7#### Stuttgart
8#### Muenchen
9#### Nuernberg

The former West German system used 4-digit codes.

The former East system also used 4-digit codes with DDR country code
that could precede the post code.

>From a very detailed history of German postcodes, identification numbers
from 1 to 306 were assigned to Postanstelten in the mid-1800s to form
a form of postal coding. (2)

The first German postal codes (Postleitzahlen, PLZ) were implemented 
during WW2 and covered all Germany, Austria, Poland, the Baltics, 
Czechoslovakia, the western USSR - everywhere that formed part of the 
Gross Deutsches Reich at the time. Each code referred to a region. 
Format #(#)(@) placed in a circle before the town name, e.g.
(1) Berlin; (6a) Warsaw (subject to confirmation); (13a) Leipzig.

>From a history of German postcodes, the WW2 time codes used 24 routing
areas (Leitgebiete). The codes were "Simple numbers distributed according
to the areas of the territory of the German Reich; they were not based on
operational structures. When the borders were changed after the second
World War this system was outdated and hardly used anymore by the public". (2)

After 1945 these codes survived with some minor modifications in the 4 
occupation zones but nowhere else. In the former BRD they were in 
force until the new #### code replaced them in 1961. In the DDR they 
were abandoned in the early 50s.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Greece
[GR-]### ##

1## ## Athens/Piraeus
201 ## Korinthos
54# ## Thessaloniki
     
(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Guadeloupe
[F-]#####

Based on France system. Numbering range 971##. See also France.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Guatemala
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Guinea-Bissau
####

Information doubtful/unconfirmed.

(2)
........................................................................
Hungary
[H-]#### [postfix]
     
1022 Budapest (example)
3347 Balaton (example)

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Iceland
[IS-]###
(1,2)
........................................................................
India
### ###  [postfix]

110000 New Delhi
190000 Srinagar
400000 Bombay
700000 Calcutta
744000 Port Blair

The PIN codes are an all-numeric code where the first digit identifies
the general region. An example code is 400 001.

(1)
........................................................................
Indonesia
#####  [postfix]

10000 Jakarta

(2)
........................................................................
Iran
#####

11354 Tehran (example)
16558 Tehran (example)

(2,8)
........................................................................
Iraq
#####

12104 Baghdad (example)

(8)
........................................................................
Ireland

# or #@ format city codes in Dublin, though this represents a zone system
for use within Dublin rather than a national postal code system.

(2)
........................................................................
Israel
#####

31### through 35### Haifa
60### through 69### Tel Aviv
91### through 97### Jerusalem

Five digit scheme. Other details unknown. There is a ## ### format which
was the original format, with space. The present standard is not to use
the spacing within the post code number, likely to ensure consistent
machine sorting. Numbers are the same before or after the removal of
the space.

See also Gaza Strip.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Italy (including San Marino, Vatican)
[I-]#####

001## Roma
00120 Vatican (use V-00120 with country code)
061## Perugia
091## Cagliari
101## Torino
111## Aosta
131## Vercelli
161## Genova
201## Milano
301## Venezia
341## Trieste
371## Trento
391## Bolzano/Bozen
401## Bologna
471## Forli
47031 San Marino (use RSM as country code: i.e. RSM-47031)
501## Firenze
601## Ancona
701## Bari
901## Palermo

First two digits indicate a postal district. There are about 90 provinces,
or postal districts. The main city of the province is usually ##1##.
##0## is reserved for smaller centres near that city.

Some conflicting reports whether the I- country code can be used for
Vatican and San Marino, or whether the listed codes need to be used.
Germany's Postcode Directory insists on I-, but the Belgian directory
allows V- for Vatican, for instance.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Japan
###(-##)  [postfix]

06# Sapporo
1## Tokyo
53# Osaka
56# Osaka
73# Hiroshima

In 1993 it was reported that consideration was being given to an 8-digit
code. No other reports to confirm this.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Kazakhstan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Korea (South)
###(-##)    [postfix]
###(-###?)

Similar to Japan format: ###(-##)

100    Seoul
590-44 Pyoseon

(2,8)
........................................................................
Kuwait
#####

13### Safat (the capital?)
70### Shuwaikh
72### Khaldiya

35002 is also a known Kuwait code (Marian Nelson example via Alan Pritchard).

Possibly integrated with the Saudi Arabia scheme? Possibly Kuwait's own?

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Kyrgystan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Laos
####
(2)
........................................................................
Latvia
[LV-]####

Latvia formerly had USSR six-digit codes, mostly of the form 22####
(though other number ranges may have been used).

(2)
........................................................................
Lesotho
###
(2)
........................................................................
Liberia
####
(2)
........................................................................
Liechtenstein
[FL-]####

See Switzerland.

(1)
........................................................................
Lithuania
####

Old Russian code with 1st 2 digits dropped. According to the postal 
authorities, the country code should NOT be used.

However, there is one report of an English-language newspaper (The
Baltic Observer) using an editorial address with "Vilnius LT-2001". (8)

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Luxembourg
[L-]####
(1,2)
........................................................................
Macedonia
#####

Numbering range 9####.
Country code [MAK-] (if used).

(2,8)
........................................................................
Madagascar
###
(2)
........................................................................
Malaysia
#####

Original scheme ##-## was introduced in 1972, perhaps for Kuala
Lumpur only. e.g. Kuala Lumpur 06-25. Present national scheme
established in 1985

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Maldives
## ##
##-##
####

Four numbers used; all formats given might be acceptable. 

(2)
........................................................................
Malta
@@@ ##
@@@ ### (Gozo)

(2)
........................................................................
Marshall Islands
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Martinique
[F-]#####

Based on France system. Numbering ranges 972##. See also France.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Mayotte
[F-]#####

Based on France system. Numbering range 976##. See also France.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Mexico
#####
#####-CR##### (bulk mail code)
(1,2)
........................................................................
Micronesia (Federated States of)
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Moldova
######

New system being developed: "Probably, in 1995, this work will be 
finished".

(2)
........................................................................
Monaco
[MC-]#####

Codes are 9803# - perhaps only a single code used throughout Monaco.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Montenegro
#####

Numbering ranges 81###, 84###, 85###

(2)
........................................................................
Morocco
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Myanmar (Burma)
#####

Not a 6-digit scheme as listed in previous versions.

04011 Magwe (as of '82)
11181 Rangoon (as of '86)

(2,8)
........................................................................
Namibia
(no system currently in use - formerly ####)

Namibia was once ruled by South Africa but became independent in 1990.
Until then it used part of the South African system, but immediately
dropped the codes (as well as the old ZAF administrative subdivisions)
on independence.

There is information from the High Commission in London that "The use of
postcodes was abolished after the Post and Telecommunications Depts were
privatised in 1992" although codes could were likely in disuse prior to
that.

There are no reports of any new Namibian post code system. There are
no street deliveries; post box and private bag are the only delivery
destinations used.

Under the South African system, Namibia had codes in the 9### range.
Again, such codes are no longer in effect.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Nepal
####

7110 Kathmandu

Not a 5-digit scheme as listed in previous versions.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Netherlands
#### @@

10## Amsterdam
12## Hilversum
23## Leiden
62## Maastricht
97## Groningen

The letters provide granularity to about 15 houses (same as UK average).

(1,2)
........................................................................
Netherlands Antilles
####
(2)
........................................................................
New Caledonia (Nouvelle Caledonie)
988##

Based on France system.

(2)
........................................................................
New Zealand
####

Regions, with main city identified:

1### Auckland
2### Hamilton
3### Tamranga
4### Napier
5### Wanganui
6### Wellington
7### Nelson
8### Christchurch
9### Dunedin

Some uncertainty whether this system is strictly a postcode system (used
for private post) or just a bulk mail scheme.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Norfolk Island
####
(2)
........................................................................
Northern Mariana Islands
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Norway
[N-]####

0### Oslo
10## Oslo
11## Oslo
12## Oslo
4000 Stavanger
5000 Bergen
8099 Jan Mayen Island
9000 Tromso
917# Svalbard Islands

Oslo codes range from 0100 to 1299. Until a few years ago, Oslo was
divided into twelve areas.

(1,2,5)
........................................................................
Oman
###
(2)
........................................................................
Pakistan
#####

74200 Karachi

(2,8)
........................................................................
Palau
#####
(2)
........................................................................
Panama

# or ## town district format codes are used; this represents a zone system
for use within urban areas rather than a national postal code system.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Peru

# or ## format town district codes are used, though this may represent
a zone system for use within urban areas rather than a national postal
code system.

(2)
........................................................................
Philippines
####

10## Manila (2800 in the old system)
11## Quezon City (3000 in the old system)

The current code system was introduced in 1988, replacing a former
(apparently also 4-digit) system.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Poland
[PL-]##-###

00-### Warszawa

Some contributions have suggested the presence of ##### format codes,
possibly due to misprinting. In official codes, dashes are always used.

(1,2)
........................................................................
Portugal
[P-]####

1000 Lisboa
9000 Madeira
9500 Azores

(1,2)
........................................................................
Puerto Rico
#####

A U.S. territory. Unknown if the Zip+4 extensions have been assigned here.

(2)
........................................................................
Reunion
[F-]#####

Based on France system. Numbering range 974##. See also France.

(2,8)
........................................................................
Romania
####  (excluding Bucharest)
##### (Bucharest)

Country code is [RO-] (if used)

Codes in the range 7#### are in Bucharest.

Other regions (4-digit format):

3400 Cluj
5300 Focsani

(2,8)
........................................................................
Russia
### ###

11#### Moskva
12#### Moskva
13#### Moskva
183000 Murmansk
191000 Sankt-Peterburg
364000 Groznyj
410000 Kazan
460000 Orenburg

The code then town/city is normally on the first line of the
address, before by the specific (street, box, etc) address.

(1)
........................................................................
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
#####

Based on France system. Numbering range 975##.

(2)
........................................................................
San Marino (see also Italy)
[I-]#####

47031 is apparently the only code in use - based on Italy's system.

[RSM-] also mentioned as country code, but reportedly not in
use (8).

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Saudi Arabia
#####  [postfix]

11### Ar Riyadh
21### Jeddah
31### Dammam

(2,8)
........................................................................
Serbia
#####

Code ranges are 1####, 2####, 3####

(2)
........................................................................
Singapore
new: ###### [postfix?]
old: ####  [postfix]

The original system began in 1979. A new system is coming into operation
from the last quarter of 1995. In the new system, the sector code will
become the first 2 digits of the code, e.g. the existing code 1646 will
become 46nnnn. Each delivery point will have its own number. (2)

(1,2)
........................................................................
Slovakia
### ##

Country code would be [SK-] (if used)

Numbering ranges 0## ##, 8## ##, 9## ## are known. Codes were inherited
from the former Czechoslovakian system after independence.

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Slovenia
#####

Codes in the 6#### range. Country code is SI.

(2)
........................................................................
South Africa
####  [postfix]

0001 Pretoria
2000 Johannesburg
4000 Durban
8000 Cape Town

Codes were reported to be assigned to such pre-homeland areas of
Bophuthatswana (0292 Bleskop) and likely Ciskei (TVBC states). Some
uncertainty as to coding plans in adjoining territories such as Namibia.
Changes to South African administration may result in renumbered postal
codings in the near future.

See also Namibia, which became independent of South Africa in 1990.

(1,8)
........................................................................
Spain
[E-]#####

02000 Albacete
03000 Alicante
08000 Barcelona
28000 Madrid
29000 Malaga
50000 Zaragoza

Assignments done alphabetically.

(1)
........................................................................
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
####

See Norway.

(2)
........................................................................
Swaziland
@###
(2)
........................................................................
Sweden
[S-]### ##
(1,2)
........................................................................
Switzerland (and Principality of Liechtenstein)
[CH-]#### (Switzerland)
[FL-]#### (Liechtenstein)

10## Lausanne            11## Vaud              12## Geneve (Geneva)
20## Neuchatel           23## La Chaux-de-Fonds 25## Biel/Bienne
30## Bern                36## Thun              40## Basel
60## Luzern (Lucerne)    70## Chur              80## Zurich
82## Schaffhausen
84## Winterthur          90## St Gallen         97## Liechtenstein

Four digit codes. The following are some general ranges of codes and
the major centres and regions these correspond to:

(1,2)
........................................................................
Taiwan
###  [postfix]
##### (bulk mail)  [postfix]
(1,2)
........................................................................
Tajikistan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Thailand
#####  [postfix]
(1,2)
........................................................................
Tunisia
####
(2)
........................................................................
Turkey
#####

Country code is [TR-] (if used)

(2,8)
........................................................................
Turkmenistan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Uganda
####
(2)
........................................................................
Ukraine
######

Country code is [UA-] (if used)

(2,8)
........................................................................
United Kingdom
@# #@@    [postfix]
@#@ #@@   [postfix]
@## #@@   [postfix]
@@# #@@   [postfix]
@@@ #@@   [postfix]
@@## #@@  [postfix]
@@#@ #@@  [postfix]
@@@ #@@   [postfix]
(codings vary in length, depending on the first part of the code)

The initial letters indicate the Postcode area. The Postcode area,
followed by a number and possibly another letter, makes up the first
part of the code called the outward code.

The numeric portion in the outward code may be from 0 to 99. CR0 and WC99
are two examples of this that are in use.

The known initial outward codes of type @#@ or @@#@ are: EC#@, WC#@,
SW1@ (SW1P only?), W1@.

@@@ #@@ is a unique code GIR 0AA for the Post office Giro bank.

High numbers, eg BS98, BS99, WC99 etc are generally used for bulk 
mailers (catalogue companies etc.)

The second portion of the postal code provides granularity at least
down to individual streets. The digit in the second half may be 0.

Initial letter(s) indicate the Postcode area of the UK. A variable set of
letters and numbers follow.

Postcode Areas (i.e. the initial letters of a postal code):

AB     Aberdeen                    LL     Llandudno
AL     St. Albans                  LN     Lincoln
B      Birmingham                  LS     Leeds
BA     Bath                        LU     Luton
BB     Blackburn                   M      Manchester
BD     Bradford                    ME     Medway
BH     Bournemouth                 MK     Milton Keynes
BL     Bolton                      ML     Motherwell
BN     Brighton                    N      London North
BR     Bromley                     NE     Newcastle-upon-Tyne
BS     Bristol                     NG     Nottingham
BT     Belfast                     NN     Northampton
CA     Carlisle                    NP     Newport (Gwent)
CB     Cambridge                   NR     Norwich
CF     Cardiff                     NW     London North-West
CH     Chester                     OL     Oldham
CM     Chelmsford                  OX     Oxford
CO     Colchester                  PA     Paisley
CR     Croydon                     PE     Peterborough
CT     Canterbury                  PH     Perth
CV     Coventry                    PL     Plymouth
CW     Crewe                       PO     Portsmouth
DA     Dartford                    PR     Preston
DD     Dundee                      RG     Reading
DE     Derby                       RH     Redhill
DG     Dumfries                    RM     Romford
DH     Durham                      S      Sheffield
DL     Darlington                  SA     Swansea
DN     Doncaster                   SE     London South-East
DT     Dorchester                  SG     Stevenage
DY     Dudley                      SK     Stockport
E      London East                 SL     Slough
EC     London East Central         SM     Sutton
EH     Edinburgh                   SN     Swindon
EN     Enfield                     SO     Southampton
EX     Exeter                      SP     Salisbury
FK     Falkirk                     SR     Sunderland
FY     Blackpool (Fylde)           SS     Southend-on-Sea
G      Glasgow                     ST     Stoke-on-Trent
GI     Giro Bank (special)         SW     London South-West
GL     Gloucester                  SY     Shrewsbury
GU     Guildford                   TA     Taunton
HA     Harrow                      TD     Galashiels
HD     Huddersfield                TF     Telford
HG     Harrogate                   TN     Tonbridge
HP     Hemel Hempstead             TQ     Torquay
HR     Hereford                    TR     Truro
HS     Hebrides (see note below)   TS     Cleveland (Teesside)
HU     Hull                        TW     Twickenham
HX     Halifax                     UB     Southall (Uxbridge)
IG     Ilford                      W      London West
IP     Ipswich                     WA     Warrington
IV     Inverness                   WC     London West Central
KA     Kilmarnock                  WD     Watford
KT     Kingston-upon-Thames        WF     Wakefield
KW     Kirkwall (Orkney)           WR     Worcester
L      Liverpool                   WS     Walsall
LA     Lancaster                   WV     Wolverhampton
LD     Llandrindod Wells           YO     York
LE     Leicester                   ZE     Lerwick (Shetland)

Special UK territories and Postcode area codes/formats:

GY# #@@   Guernsey
IM# #@@   Isle of Man
IM## #@@  Isle of Man
JE# #@@   Jersey

New area introduced in 1995: HS Hebrides (recoding of PA8#) because 
of unacceptably high level of manual miscodes to PA8.

Stray Notes:

Alan Pritchard (2) - "I have come across a number of mnemonic and
'personalised' codes. I am still not sure whether these are deliberate
or coincidental. I have a list of them somewhere but from memory.
Kings College, Cambridge (which thinks a lot of itself): CB1 1ST.
Department of National Savings ... 1NS. British Telecom DH99 1BT, the
one I really  liked of a hospital which was ... 1LL"

(1,2,3,8)
........................................................................
United States (including possessions)
#####(-####)  [postfix]

The Zip Code format was originally a 5-digit scheme as in "12345".
The first digit represented a general region of the U.S. The first
three digits identify a particular region. All 5 digits identify the
post office or district of a community.

A 5-digit scheme is not precise enough to indicate particular streets
or houses. Thus the "Zip+4" was formed to provide a 9-digit scheme.
The original 5-digit format had four digits appended (eg. 12345-6789).

US-possessed territories (American Samoa, Guam, etc.) may have the
Zip+4 extended format, and may just have the 5 digit codes in effect
(e.g. 00913-9998, 00936-9614 are valid Puerto Rico zips, 96921-9998
is a valid Guam zip, according to 1994 ZIP code directory).

(2,8)
........................................................................
Uruguay
#####

11000 Montevideo

(2,8)
........................................................................
USSR (old country)
######

See listings for individual nations for current postal code formats.

(2)
........................................................................
Uzbekistan
######
(2)
........................................................................
Vatican (see also Italy)
[V-]#####

00120 is the Vatican code, part of the Italian code system

(1,2,8)
........................................................................
Venezuela
####  [postfix]
(1)
........................................................................
Viet Nam
#####

VN-##### format is sometimes seen

(2)
........................................................................
Wallis and Futuna
986##

Based on France system.

(2)
........................................................................
Yugoslavia (old country)
#####

11000 Beograd
21000 Novi Sad
38000 Pris^tina
81000 Titograd

Yugoslavia codes have been inherited by the separate countries involved;
there are no known plans to change the code systems.

YU-##### form is no longer used for rum#, given that major governments
no longer consider the existence of Yugoslavia as such.

(1,2)
========================================================================

Contributors

Thanks to those who contributed or had additional data:

(1) Sergio Gelato <gelato@cornell.edu>
(2) Alan Pritchard <apritchard@cix.compulink.co.uk>
(3) Peter Moore (from a file prepared April 1988, from British Post
    Office information) <net address unknown>
(4) Tommi Uschanov <tommi@freeport.uwasa.fi>
(5) Ruben Sogaard <rubens@ifi.uio.no>
(6) David E A Wilson <david@osiris.cs.uow.edu.au>
(7) Philippe Bourdon <pmbst12@vms.cis.pitt.edu>
(8) Paul Reynolds <P.R.Reynolds@swansea.ac.uk>
(9) Julien Cassaigne <cassaign@lmd.univ-mrs.fr>