Germans Favor Handwritten Postcards Over Digital Greetings, Deutsche Post Survey Finds

Germans Favor Handwritten Postcards Over Digital Greetings, Deutsche Post Survey Finds

(IN BRIEF) A June 2025 Forsa survey for Deutsche Post shows 65 percent of Germans prefer receiving traditional postcards over digital greetings, citing tangibility and personal effort. Three-quarters value that senders took the time to write; 69 percent see postcards as more personal. In 2024, about 96 million postcards were mailed through Deutsche Post, with Austria, Italy, Spain, France and Switzerland as top inbound sources, and the USA, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland as main destinations. German postcard rates—€0.95 domestically and €1.25 internationally—remain lower than in many European countries. The Postcrossing network celebrates 20 years and over 82 million cards exchanged among 800,000 users, hosting a first international fair in Berlin on July 12–13, 2025, alongside a special Deutsche Post stamp issue. The survey polled 1,003 adults from June 26 to June 30, 2025.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 11-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — DHL underscores the lasting impact of a handwritten postcard, noting it forges a far deeper connection than a fleeting messenger greeting. According to a recent Forsa survey commissioned by Deutsche Post, Germans overwhelmingly prefer traditional postcards over digital vacation messages. The study reveals that 65 percent of respondents take particular pleasure in getting a handwritten card, while 75 percent value the thoughtfulness and effort behind it. A further 69 percent believe postcards feel more personal than messages sent by email, social media or smartphone apps. Nearly two-thirds cherish postcards for their tangibility—pinning them to refrigerators or corkboards as keepsakes.

In 2024, Deutsche Post handled roughly 96 million postcards domestically and internationally, maintaining volumes similar to the previous year. Austria led as the top sender of cards into Germany, trailed by Italy, Spain, France and Switzerland. Conversely, German senders most often mailed postcards to the USA, then Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Despite rising costs elsewhere in Europe, sending a postcard from Germany remains competitively priced. From January, domestic postcard postage rose to €0.95, and international rates increased to €1.25—aligning with standard letter fees. By comparison, outbound postcard rates in Italy, Spain and France are €1.35, €1.85 and €2.10 respectively.

Postcrossing—the global postcard exchange network—marks its 20th anniversary this year. Since its 2005 launch, the platform has facilitated the mailing of over 82 million international cards among more than 800,000 members in 209 countries, including some 65,000 in Germany (placing it among the top five nations by membership). To celebrate, Postcrossing will host its inaugural international postcard fair at Berlin’s Museum for Communication on July 12–13, 2025, and Deutsche Post will issue a special commemorative stamp.

Benjamin Rasch, Head of Product Management and Marketing at Deutsche Post, commented: “Vacation and postcards go hand in hand. Our survey confirms that despite digital alternatives, people still treasure the personal touch of a card delivered by mail. A postcard’s journey and permanence turn it into a memento rather than a fleeting notification.”

The Forsa poll surveyed 1,003 German adults between June 26 and June 30, 2025, on their preferred methods of sending and receiving vacation greetings.

Post & Parcel Germany is a division of DHL Group with around 187,000 employees. Its core business is the transport, sorting and delivery of domestic letter mail and parcels in Germany. Post & Parcel
Germany offers its comprehensive portfolio of products and services under DHL Group’s two strong brands – Deutsche Post and DHL.

Powered by both brands, Deutsche Post and DHL, Post & Parcel Germany is the largest postal service provider in Europe, the market leader in the German mail and parcel market, and Provider of Choice for customers sending and receiving parcels. The division also operates the largest network of parcel lockers (Packstations and Poststations) in Germany. Post & Parcel Germany is an industry pioneer in environmental and social sustainability.

DHL Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. Through investment in green technologies and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

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SOURCE: DHL Group