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Our money

The euro was launched on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of more than 300 million people in Europe. For the first three years it was an invisible currency, only used for accounting purposes, e.g. in electronic payments. Euro cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced, at fixed conversion rates, the banknotes and coins of the national currencies like the Belgian franc and the Deutsche Mark.

Today, euro banknotes and coins are legal tender in 20 of the 27 Member States of the European Union, including the overseas departments, territories and islands which are either part of, or associated with, euro area countries. These countries form the euro area. The micro-states of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also use the euro, on the basis of a formal arrangement with the European Union. Montenegro and Kosovo likewise use the euro, but without a formal arrangement. Cash payments are now made in the same currency by about 350 million people — euro banknotes and coins have become a tangible symbol of European integration.

All EU countries except Denmark, which has an opt-out, are expected to join the monetary union and to introduce the euro as soon as they fulfil the convergence criteria.

Interactive map of the euro area

Explore this interactive map and the tables below it to find out which countries of the European Union are part of the euro area, as well as when they started using the euro.

Please select a country

Austria

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Belgium

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Bulgaria

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007

Cyprus

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008

Czech Republic

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Germany

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Denmark

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1973

Estonia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2011

Spain

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Finland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

France

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Greece

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1981

Euro since 2001 (cash since 2002)

Croatia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2013

Euro since 2023

Hungary

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Ireland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1973

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Italy

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Lithuania

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2015

Luxembourg

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Latvia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2014

Monaco

Non-EU country

Malta

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008

The Netherlands

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Poland

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Portugal

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Romania

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007

Sweden

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1995

Slovenia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2007

Slovakia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2009

San Marino

Non-EU country

Members of the European Union and the euro area

Members of the European Union using the euro
Country Joined the EU Adopted the euro
Austria 1995 1999 (cash since 2002)
Belgium 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Croatia 2013 2023
Cyprus 2004 2008
Estonia 2004 2011
Finland 1995 1999 (cash since 2002)
France 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Germany 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Greece 1981 2001 (cash since 2002)
Ireland 1973 1999 (cash since 2002)
Italy 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Latvia 2004 2014
Lithuania 2004 2015
Luxembourg 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Malta 2004 2008
The Netherlands 1957 1999 (cash since 2002)
Portugal 1986 1999 (cash since 2002)
Slovakia 2004 2009
Slovenia 2004 2007
Spain 1986 1999 (cash since 2002)
Members of the European Union not using the euro
Country Joined the EU
Bulgaria 2007
Czech Republic 2004
Denmark 1973
Hungary 2004
Poland 2004
Romania 2007
Sweden 1995

The United Kingdom, which was a member of the European Union from 1973 to 2020, did not use the euro.

Fixed euro conversion rates

Currency
1 BEF 40.3399 (Belgian francs)
1 DEM 1.95583 (Deutsche Mark)
1 EEK 15.6466 (Estonian kroon)
1 IEP 0.787564 (Irish pound)
1 GRD 340.750 (Greek drachmas)
1 ESP 166.386 (Spanish pesetas)
1 CYP 0.585274 (Cypriot pound)
1 FRF 6.55957 (French francs)
1 HRK 7.53450 (Croatian kuna)
1 ITL 1936.27 (Italian lire)
1 LVL 0.702804 (Latvian lats)
1 LTL 3.45280 (Lithuanian litas)
1 LUF 40.3399 (Luxembourg francs)
1 MTL 0.429300 (Maltese lira)
1 NLG 2.20371 (Dutch guilders)
1 ATS 13.7603 (Austrian schillings)
1 PTE 200.482 (Portuguese escudos)
1 SIT 239.640 (Slovenian tolars)
1 SKK 30.1260 (Slovak koruna)
1 FIM 5.94573 (Finnish markkas)

How much do you really know about the euro?

Take our quiz and test your knowledge of the euro (and the European Central Bank).

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