GITNUXREPORT 2025

Parcel Industry Statistics

Parcel industry poised for trillion-dollar growth driven by e-commerce and innovation.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The use of drones for parcel delivery is projected to increase by a CAGR of 19% through 2030

Statistic 2

The use of machine learning in route optimization increased by 35% in 2023 across major parcel carriers

Statistic 3

The penetration of IoT devices in tracking and managing parcels is projected to reach 60% globally by 2025

Statistic 4

The proportion of parcels shipped via drones is expected to increase from 0.1% in 2023 to 5% by 2030

Statistic 5

The average parcel delivery time in the U.S. is approximately 3-5 days for standard shipping

Statistic 6

Approximately 70% of consumers prefer fast shipping options like next-day or same-day delivery

Statistic 7

The adoption rate of contactless parcel delivery methods increased by 65% during 2020-2022

Statistic 8

Eco-friendly packaging in parcel shipments increased by 25% in 2023 compared to 2022

Statistic 9

Approximately 60% of e-commerce parcels are now shipped with eco-friendly or recycled packaging materials

Statistic 10

The percentage of same-day or instant delivery options available increased from 15% in 2019 to 45% in 2023

Statistic 11

The penetration of multi-channel delivery options (home, work, lockers) reached 70% of consumers in 2023

Statistic 12

The share of consumers opting for subscription-based parcel delivery services increased by 25% in 2023 compared to the previous year

Statistic 13

Approximately 82% of parcel shipments are now digitally documented in tracking and management systems

Statistic 14

The adoption of contactless payment methods for shipping labels and delivery payments reached 85% in North America in 2023

Statistic 15

The global parcel delivery market is expected to reach $1.07 trillion by 2026

Statistic 16

E-commerce sales accounted for 13.2% of total retail sales worldwide in 2022

Statistic 17

In 2023, the number of parcels shipped worldwide is projected to reach 131 billion

Statistic 18

Same-day delivery services increased by over 30% globally in 2022

Statistic 19

The U.S. parcel market size was valued at approximately $90 billion in 2022

Statistic 20

The global express delivery segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030

Statistic 21

The average weight of parcels shipped globally in 2022 was approximately 2.3 kg

Statistic 22

The total number of courier and express service activities globally was valued at $400 billion in 2022

Statistic 23

Around 38% of global parcels are shipped via express courier services

Statistic 24

The U.S. parcel industry created approximately 987,000 jobs in 2022

Statistic 25

The global parcel tracking market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 26

Pre-paid labels now account for over 80% of parcel shipments worldwide

Statistic 27

The global intra-city courier market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% through 2027

Statistic 28

The global cold chain logistics market is projected to reach $517 billion by 2028, driven by pharma and perishable food shipments

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The parcel industry waste from packaging materials accounts for approximately 4.4 million tons annually in the U.S. alone

Statistic 30

The annual revenue generated from parcel locker installations and management is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.6% through 2028

Statistic 31

The global parcel logistics market value is expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, driven by e-commerce growth

Statistic 32

The global parcel express delivery sector accounts for approximately 25% of total global parcel revenues

Statistic 33

The global market for parcel delivery drones is projected to reach $3.1 billion by 2027, with significant growth in Asia and North America

Statistic 34

Amazon shipped over 5 billion packages globally in 2022

Statistic 35

The average last-mile delivery cost constitutes about 53% of total delivery expenses

Statistic 36

Urban last-mile delivery accounts for 45% of the total parcel delivery costs globally

Statistic 37

The average parcel’s transit time from warehouse to customer has decreased by 12% worldwide in 2022

Statistic 38

The average delivery driver in the U.S. spends approximately 2.5 hours per day on route planning and navigation

Statistic 39

The percentage of parcel deliveries completed without any delivery attempt increased to 85% in 2023

Statistic 40

The average age of delivery vehicles in service is approximately 8 years globally, with regions like North America having newer fleets averaging 6 years

Statistic 41

55% of parcel carriers worldwide are investing in green logistics initiatives, focusing on fleet electrification and sustainable packaging

Statistic 42

In the US, last-mile delivery costs increased by 20% between 2019 and 2022, primarily due to rising fuel prices and labor costs

Statistic 43

The average parcel processing time at major sorting facilities has decreased by 10% since 2020 due to automation

Statistic 44

The average number of parcel delivery attempts per shipment has decreased to 1.2 in 2023, thanks to improved scheduling and communication

Statistic 45

The share of automated sorting centers in the parcel industry increased to over 60% worldwide in 2023, greatly improving processing efficiency

Statistic 46

The average delivery radius for urban parcel carriers is approximately 10 miles, with some fleets expanding to 15 miles in high-density areas

Statistic 47

The parcel industry in Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2021 to 2028

Statistic 48

Package theft increases have risen by 50% in urban areas during the holiday seasons of 2022 and 2023

Statistic 49

The use of autonomous delivery vehicles increased by 22% in North America in 2023

Statistic 50

The number of parcel lockers installed worldwide surpassed 115,000 units in 2022

Statistic 51

The e-commerce distribution networks have expanded their reach by approximately 15% globally in 2023

Statistic 52

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for over 41% of global parcel shipments in 2022

Statistic 53

The average parcel size shipped in North America is approximately 1.2 cubic feet

Statistic 54

The number of express parcel services offering package pickup from lockers or convenience stores increased by 40% in 2022

Statistic 55

International parcel volumes grew by 8% in 2022, mainly driven by cross-border e-commerce

Statistic 56

The shipment volume via traditional postal services has declined by 12% globally from 2018 to 2022, replaced increasingly by courier and express services

Statistic 57

Cross-border e-commerce parcel shipments increased by 18% in 2022, notably boosted by faster customs clearance procedures

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Key Highlights

The global parcel delivery market is expected to reach $1.07 trillion by 2026
E-commerce sales accounted for 13.2% of total retail sales worldwide in 2022
The average parcel delivery time in the U.S. is approximately 3-5 days for standard shipping
The parcel industry in Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2021 to 2028
In 2023, the number of parcels shipped worldwide is projected to reach 131 billion
Same-day delivery services increased by over 30% globally in 2022
The U.S. parcel market size was valued at approximately $90 billion in 2022
Amazon shipped over 5 billion packages globally in 2022
The global express delivery segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030
Package theft increases have risen by 50% in urban areas during the holiday seasons of 2022 and 2023
The average weight of parcels shipped globally in 2022 was approximately 2.3 kg
The use of autonomous delivery vehicles increased by 22% in North America in 2023
The total number of courier and express service activities globally was valued at $400 billion in 2022

With e-commerce soaring to a projected $1.07 trillion global market by 2026 and innovation accelerating—with same-day delivery increasing over 30%, drone usage rising by 19%, and parcel volumes hitting 131 billion shipments worldwide—the parcel industry is undergoing a transformative evolution that reshapes how goods move across the globe.

Delivery Technologies and Innovation

The use of drones for parcel delivery is projected to increase by a CAGR of 19% through 2030
The use of machine learning in route optimization increased by 35% in 2023 across major parcel carriers
The penetration of IoT devices in tracking and managing parcels is projected to reach 60% globally by 2025
The proportion of parcels shipped via drones is expected to increase from 0.1% in 2023 to 5% by 2030

Delivery Technologies and Innovation Interpretation

As parcel delivery leaps into the future with drones rising from tiny 0.1% to 5% by 2030 and machine learning streamlining routes by 35% in 2023, the Internet of Things is set to connect 60% of parcels globally—proving that in logistics, innovation is no longer optional but essential for soaring efficiency.

E-commerce and Consumer Preferences

The average parcel delivery time in the U.S. is approximately 3-5 days for standard shipping
Approximately 70% of consumers prefer fast shipping options like next-day or same-day delivery
The adoption rate of contactless parcel delivery methods increased by 65% during 2020-2022
Eco-friendly packaging in parcel shipments increased by 25% in 2023 compared to 2022
Approximately 60% of e-commerce parcels are now shipped with eco-friendly or recycled packaging materials
The percentage of same-day or instant delivery options available increased from 15% in 2019 to 45% in 2023
The penetration of multi-channel delivery options (home, work, lockers) reached 70% of consumers in 2023
The share of consumers opting for subscription-based parcel delivery services increased by 25% in 2023 compared to the previous year
Approximately 82% of parcel shipments are now digitally documented in tracking and management systems
The adoption of contactless payment methods for shipping labels and delivery payments reached 85% in North America in 2023

E-commerce and Consumer Preferences Interpretation

As parcel delivery speeds accelerate and eco-conscious and contactless technologies surge—reflecting a customer base increasingly eager for instant, sustainable, and seamless shipping experiences—the industry is unmistakably shipping itself into a smarter, greener, and faster future.

Market Size and Valuation

The global parcel delivery market is expected to reach $1.07 trillion by 2026
E-commerce sales accounted for 13.2% of total retail sales worldwide in 2022
In 2023, the number of parcels shipped worldwide is projected to reach 131 billion
Same-day delivery services increased by over 30% globally in 2022
The U.S. parcel market size was valued at approximately $90 billion in 2022
The global express delivery segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030
The average weight of parcels shipped globally in 2022 was approximately 2.3 kg
The total number of courier and express service activities globally was valued at $400 billion in 2022
Around 38% of global parcels are shipped via express courier services
The U.S. parcel industry created approximately 987,000 jobs in 2022
The global parcel tracking market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2023 to 2030
Pre-paid labels now account for over 80% of parcel shipments worldwide
The global intra-city courier market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% through 2027
The global cold chain logistics market is projected to reach $517 billion by 2028, driven by pharma and perishable food shipments
The parcel industry waste from packaging materials accounts for approximately 4.4 million tons annually in the U.S. alone
The annual revenue generated from parcel locker installations and management is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.6% through 2028
The global parcel logistics market value is expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, driven by e-commerce growth
The global parcel express delivery sector accounts for approximately 25% of total global parcel revenues
The global market for parcel delivery drones is projected to reach $3.1 billion by 2027, with significant growth in Asia and North America

Market Size and Valuation Interpretation

As parcel volumes soar to a valuation surpassing a trillion dollars by 2026 and e-commerce commands over 13% of global retail, the industry’s rapid evolution—from same-day and express services to drone deliveries and smart lockers—is delivering both unprecedented opportunity and pressing challenges like environmental waste, all while creating nearly a million U.S. jobs and redefining the future of global commerce.

Operational Costs and Logistics Efficiency

Amazon shipped over 5 billion packages globally in 2022
The average last-mile delivery cost constitutes about 53% of total delivery expenses
Urban last-mile delivery accounts for 45% of the total parcel delivery costs globally
The average parcel’s transit time from warehouse to customer has decreased by 12% worldwide in 2022
The average delivery driver in the U.S. spends approximately 2.5 hours per day on route planning and navigation
The percentage of parcel deliveries completed without any delivery attempt increased to 85% in 2023
The average age of delivery vehicles in service is approximately 8 years globally, with regions like North America having newer fleets averaging 6 years
55% of parcel carriers worldwide are investing in green logistics initiatives, focusing on fleet electrification and sustainable packaging
In the US, last-mile delivery costs increased by 20% between 2019 and 2022, primarily due to rising fuel prices and labor costs
The average parcel processing time at major sorting facilities has decreased by 10% since 2020 due to automation
The average number of parcel delivery attempts per shipment has decreased to 1.2 in 2023, thanks to improved scheduling and communication
The share of automated sorting centers in the parcel industry increased to over 60% worldwide in 2023, greatly improving processing efficiency
The average delivery radius for urban parcel carriers is approximately 10 miles, with some fleets expanding to 15 miles in high-density areas

Operational Costs and Logistics Efficiency Interpretation

Despite shipping over 5 billion parcels globally in 2022—with last-mile costs consuming more than half the budget and urban deliveries accounting for nearly half—industry efficiency gains like a 12% faster transit time and 85% of parcels delivered without attempts, alongside growing green initiatives and automation, suggest the parcel industry is racing against rising costs and environmental concerns to deliver more sustainably and efficiently within shrinking timeframes.

Regional Trends and Market Growth

The parcel industry in Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2021 to 2028
Package theft increases have risen by 50% in urban areas during the holiday seasons of 2022 and 2023
The use of autonomous delivery vehicles increased by 22% in North America in 2023
The number of parcel lockers installed worldwide surpassed 115,000 units in 2022
The e-commerce distribution networks have expanded their reach by approximately 15% globally in 2023
The Asia-Pacific region accounted for over 41% of global parcel shipments in 2022
The average parcel size shipped in North America is approximately 1.2 cubic feet
The number of express parcel services offering package pickup from lockers or convenience stores increased by 40% in 2022
International parcel volumes grew by 8% in 2022, mainly driven by cross-border e-commerce
The shipment volume via traditional postal services has declined by 12% globally from 2018 to 2022, replaced increasingly by courier and express services
Cross-border e-commerce parcel shipments increased by 18% in 2022, notably boosted by faster customs clearance procedures

Regional Trends and Market Growth Interpretation

As Europe's parcel industry is projected to grow at nearly 8% annually, amid a 50% rise in city thefts during peak seasons and a 22% increase in autonomous vehicle deliveries in North America, the global expansion of lockers, the surge in cross-border e-commerce, and the decline of traditional postal services underscore a future where convenience, innovation, and security are pivotal—making parcel delivery not just a logistical challenge but a reflection of ever-evolving consumer demands.