African currency guides
All currency guides
Explainers that answer the questions the converter pages cannot — how African currencies are structured, which ones are fixed or restricted, and what to actually do when you need to change money.
Is there a single African currency?
No — Africa's 54 countries use about 42 currencies. What the CFA franc, the eco and the rand zone actually are. Read the guide →
African currency symbols and codes
Every African currency symbol and ISO 4217 code in one reference table, with subunits and regions. Read the guide →
African currency subunits explained
How many pesewas make a cedi? Piastres, kobo, millimes — and the two currencies that are not decimal. Read the guide →
Which African currencies are pegged?
Nine currencies hold fixed rates — five to the euro, three to the rand, one to the dollar. Every peg listed. Read the guide →
Closed and restricted currencies
Six currencies you generally cannot buy before travelling or take home afterwards, and how to plan around it. Read the guide →
How to exchange money in Africa
Which currency to bring, why worn dollars get refused, and how cards and mobile money really work. Read the guide →