The Maths Behind Postcodes: Are there enough to go round? - John D Barrow Gresham College lecture

TL;DR

The UK postcode system uses a combination of letters and numbers to identify different postal zones. There are currently not enough postcodes to have one per person, but there are enough for each household.

Transcript

so the postcodes structure in the uk is shown schematically here the country is divided into these various postal zones which are labeled by letters uh here's london down here with a bit more substructure and as i'm sure you're aware 2009 was the 50th anniversary of the postcode this wasn't something that seemed to be greatly publicized but 1959 wa... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 The UK postcode system uses a combination of letters and numbers to identify different areas.
• #️⃣ The number of postcodes is not sufficient for each individual in the UK, but they are enough for each household.
• 💌 The possibility of a worldwide postcode system would require adding more letters or using letters instead of numbers.
• #️⃣ UK national insurance numbers have a vast number of possibilities, ensuring coverage for future needs.

Questions & Answers

Q: How many postcodes are there in the UK?

The number of postcodes in the UK can be calculated based on the letter-number-letter pattern. With 26 letters, 10 digits, and specific letters used for certain areas, there are over 45.5 million permutations.

Q: Are there enough postcodes for each individual in the UK?

No, there are not enough postcodes to have one for each person in the UK. However, based on the number of households and projected population growth, there are enough postcodes for each household.

Q: Could there be a worldwide postcode system?

To create a worldwide postcode system, an additional letter or substitution of a number with a letter would be necessary. This would increase the number of possibilities and accommodate a larger scale.

Q: How many UK national insurance numbers are there?

UK national insurance numbers follow a letter-letter-six numbers-letter pattern. There are over 17.5 billion possible combinations, which is much higher than the current world population, ensuring a large number of possibilities for the future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The UK is divided into postal zones labeled by letters, with additional substructures in London.

• The postcode system was invented in 1959, and the first letter using this system was sent from Norwich.

• Postcodes are used to identify locations and can be used to trace back to individuals.