In the midst of the bustling holiday season, Norwegians are hearing unwelcome news: home mail delivery may soon be a thing of the past. A government-appointed commission has deemed
the current system “unsustainable,” both financially and logistically.
Historically, Norway's postal service (Posten) has been tasked with delivering mail, newspapers, magazines, and other printed materials directly to homes across the country. However, rising costs and declining demand have put the system under strain. Despite significant increases in postage rates—from around NOK 5 in 1990 to NOK 37 (USD 3.40) today—revenue from traditional mail is no longer sufficient to cover delivery expenses. Home delivery, already reduced to two or three days a week, is expected to decrease to just once a week before being phased out entirely.
For most residents, this will mean retrieving mail from local postal facilities, often located within grocery stores. Only individuals with physical or digital accessibility challenges will still receive weekly deliveries. Traditional post offices, once a cornerstone of Norwegian communities, have largely been replaced by these in-store facilities, with only a handful of full-service post offices remaining in major cities.
Digital shift and declining volumes
The decline in mail volume is largely attributed to the widespread adoption of digital communication. Email and other online platforms have drastically reduced the need for traditional mail services. Posten itself has contributed to the decline by increasing postage rates while cutting services, further discouraging usage.
The dwindling demand for mail delivery has also sparked debates about the future role of Posten. For instance, this year’s Christmas stamps, designed by schoolchildren with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI), provoked controversy among professional illustrators, who criticized the use of AI as a threat to their profession. Posten defended the initiative, stating it aimed to involve children and experiment with new technology, while assuring designers their roles were secure.
Government and commission responses
Transport and Communications Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård, who oversees postal services, acknowledged the dramatic reduction in mail volume. He noted that the cost of delivering each letter has become disproportionately high, necessitating a reassessment of the system.
The commission’s leader, Elisabeth Aarsæther, emphasized the importance of maintaining a robust postal system for national preparedness and communication, particularly during crises. However, she suggested that the obligation to deliver letters directly to recipients could be relaxed, potentially allowing Posten to redeploy its 3,000 mail carriers into other roles. Labor unions are expected to play a significant role in these discussions.
The commission also recommended deregulating the postal market, which could open the door for competition in letter delivery. Currently, package delivery is already dominated by various private operators.
A paradigm shift
Editorial responses to the proposed changes have been mixed. The newspaper Dagsavisen agreed that the current system is unsustainable but described the recommendations as a "dramatic departure" from Norway’s long-standing tradition of state-run mail services. The paper noted that while “the post must still go through,” the responsibility may now shift to individuals collecting their mail. It concluded that the proposed changes mark a significant shift toward greater digitalization in Norwegian society.
As Norway faces this potential overhaul of its postal system, the question remains whether the nation is ready for a future where the once-reliable mail truck no longer stops at every home. Photo by Alasdair McLellan, Wikimedia commons.