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
| 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) |
| 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).