East Africa Currency Guide
East Africa is home to more separate currencies than any other African region — 14 in total, spanning the mainland shilling economies (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia), the Great Lakes states (Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan), and the Indian Ocean islands (Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros). The region shows the continent's widest range of currency arrangements: Djibouti has held one of the world's longest-running fixed pegs to the US dollar since 1949, Somalia's economy has become heavily dollarized after decades of conflict, and Madagascar's ariary is one of only two non-decimal currencies left in the world.
Currency of East Africa: the short answer
There is no single East African currency. Fourteen separate currencies circulate across the region — more than in any other part of Africa. East African money divides into four groups: the shilling economies of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; the Horn of Africa currencies of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia; the Great Lakes francs and pounds of Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan; and the rupees, ariary and franc of the Indian Ocean islands.
The single most useful thing to know: the Kenyan, Tanzanian, Ugandan and Somali shillings share a name but are completely separate currencies with very different values. A Kenyan shilling is worth roughly ten Ugandan shillings, and none of them is accepted across the border.
An East African currency union has been under discussion for years — the East African Community signed a monetary union protocol in 2013 with the goal of a shared East African shilling — but the target date has been pushed back repeatedly and no such currency exists today.
East Africa Currency Comparison
| Country | Currency | Code | Symbol | Per 1 USD | Converters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | Burundian Franc | BIF | FBu | 2,900 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | Comorian Franc | KMF | CF | 452.61 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | Djiboutian Franc | DJF | Fdj | 177.72 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | Nakfa | ERN | Nfk | 15 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | Birr | ETB | Br | 160.01 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Kenyan Shilling | KES | KSh | 129.44 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | Ariary | MGA | Ar | 4,550 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | Mauritian Rupee | MUR | ₨ | 47.36 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | Rwandan Franc | RWF | FRw | 1,474.54 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | Seychellois Rupee | SCR | ₨ | 13.32 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | Somali Shilling | SOS | Sh | 571 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | South Sudanese Pound | SSP | £ | 4,400 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Tanzanian Shilling | TZS | TSh | 2,635 | USD · EUR · GBP |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | Ugandan Shilling | UGX | USh | 3,709.45 | USD · EUR · GBP |
What currency does each East African country use?
East Africa splits into four natural groups. Here is what circulates in each.
The shilling economies — Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
All three use a currency called the shilling, but they are entirely separate and not interchangeable: the Kenyan shilling (KES), Tanzanian shilling (TZS) and Ugandan shilling (UGX) each have their own central bank and very different values. A Kenyan shilling is worth roughly ten Ugandan shillings, so confusing them is an expensive mistake. Somalia also uses a shilling (SOS), again unrelated. Kenyan shilling → · Tanzanian shilling → · Ugandan shilling →
The Horn — Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia
Ethiopia uses the birr (ETB), which moved to a more market-determined rate after years of tight control. Djibouti’s franc (DJF) has been fixed to the US dollar since 1949 under a currency board — one of the longest-running pegs in the world. Eritrea’s nakfa (ERN) is tightly controlled with severe restrictions on foreign exchange. In Somalia, the shilling circulates alongside heavy everyday use of US dollars and mobile money. Ethiopian birr → · Djiboutian franc →
The Great Lakes — Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan
Rwanda and Burundi both use francs (RWF and BIF) descended from the Belgian colonial franc, but they are separate currencies. South Sudan’s pound (SSP) was created after independence in 2011 and has since suffered severe depreciation amid conflict and collapsing oil revenue. Rwandan franc → · Burundian franc → · South Sudanese pound →
The Indian Ocean islands — Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros
Madagascar’s ariary (MGA) is one of only two currencies in the world that is not decimal — it divides into five iraimbilanja rather than 100 subunits. Mauritius and Seychelles both use rupees (MUR, SCR) reflecting their Indian Ocean trading history, and the Comorian franc (KMF) is pegged to the euro through its historic link to the French franc. Malagasy ariary → · Mauritian rupee → · Seychellois rupee → · Comorian franc →
Exchanging money in East Africa: what to know
Mobile money often beats cash and cards
Kenya’s M-Pesa is the best-known example, but mobile money is mainstream across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda for everything from taxi fares to market stalls. In many situations it is more widely accepted than a card.
Dollars are exchanged, not spent — with one exception
Across most of the region you exchange dollars rather than spend them, though Somalia is heavily dollarized and US notes circulate directly. A common regional quirk: older, small-denomination or worn US banknotes are often refused or exchanged at a worse rate than crisp large bills.
Shillings do not cross borders
Kenyan, Tanzanian, Ugandan and Somali shillings are separate currencies with very different values. Leftover shillings from one country are not spendable in the next, so convert before you cross.
The push for an East African shilling
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan make up the East African Community (EAC), which has a long-standing but still unrealized goal of launching a single East African shilling to replace their national currencies, modeled loosely on the eurozone. A monetary union protocol was signed in 2013 with a target date that has since been repeatedly pushed back, and as of 2026 each EAC member continues to issue its own currency while working toward the deeper fiscal and monetary policy convergence the union would require.
Understand African money better
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the currency of East Africa?
There is no single currency of East Africa. Fourteen separate currencies circulate, including the Kenyan, Tanzanian, Ugandan and Somali shillings, the Ethiopian birr, the Djiboutian, Rwandan, Burundian and Comorian francs, the South Sudanese pound, the Malagasy ariary, and the Mauritian and Seychellois rupees.
What money is used in East Africa?
East African money varies by country. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda use their own shillings; Ethiopia uses the birr; Djibouti, Rwanda, Burundi and Comoros use francs; South Sudan uses a pound; Mauritius and Seychelles use rupees; and Madagascar uses the ariary.
Which East African currency is worth the most?
By nominal exchange rate the Seychellois rupee and Mauritian rupee need the fewest units per US dollar in the region, while the Ugandan shilling and Malagasy ariary need the most. Nominal rate says nothing about economic strength — it mainly reflects each currency's historical starting value.
What currency is used in East Africa?
There is no single East African currency. Fourteen separate currencies circulate, including the Kenyan, Tanzanian, Ugandan and Somali shillings, the Ethiopian birr, the Djiboutian, Rwandan, Burundian and Comorian francs, the South Sudanese pound, the Malagasy ariary, and the Mauritian and Seychellois rupees.
Are the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan shillings the same?
No. They share a name from the historic East African shilling but are separate, non-interchangeable currencies with different values — a Kenyan shilling is worth roughly ten Ugandan shillings. You cannot spend one country's shillings in another.
Can I use US dollars in East Africa?
Dollars are easy to exchange everywhere and circulate directly in Somalia, but elsewhere you should expect to pay in local currency. Worn or small-denomination US notes are frequently refused or given a poorer rate.
How many currencies does East Africa use?
14 separate currencies circulate across East Africa's mainland and island nations, more than any other African region — none of them are shared between countries.
Is there a plan for a single East African currency?
Yes — the East African Community (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan) has a long-term plan for a shared East African shilling, but implementation has repeatedly been delayed since the 2013 protocol was signed.
Why is the Djiboutian franc so stable?
It's been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate since 1949 — one of the longest-running currency pegs anywhere in the world — giving it far more stability than most currencies in the region.
Where can I see rates for all 54 African currencies?
Check the full currency directory on the African Currencies homepage, which covers every country on the continent.