Countries That Use the Euro: All 20 Eurozone Members

As of 2026, 20 European Union countries use the euro as their official currency, and Bulgaria will become the 21st member when it adopts the euro on 1 January 2026. The euro is also used by a handful of non-EU states and microstates, making it the shared currency of roughly 350 million people.

Introduction

The euro is the official currency of the eurozone, the group of European Union member states that have adopted it. Launched in 1999 as an accounting currency and introduced as physical notes and coins in 2002, the euro is today the second most-used currency in the world after the US dollar, both for international reserves and cross-border payments.

Not every EU country uses the euro. To join, a country must meet strict economic conditions known as the convergence criteria, covering inflation, public debt, budget deficits, exchange-rate stability, and long-term interest rates. This guide lists every eurozone member, explains who is joining next, and covers the countries outside the EU that use the euro too.

The 20 Eurozone Members (as of 2026)

• Austria: Founding euro member since 1999.
• Belgium: Founding member and home to EU institutions in Brussels.
• Croatia: The newest member until 2026, adopting the euro on 1 January 2023.
• Cyprus: Joined the eurozone in 2008.
• Estonia: The first Baltic state to adopt the euro, in 2011.
• Finland: Founding member and the only Nordic country in the eurozone.
• France: Founding member and the eurozone's second-largest economy.
• Germany: Founding member and the eurozone's largest economy.
• Greece: Joined in 2001, one year after the other founders.
• Ireland: Founding member since 1999.
• Italy: Founding member and a major eurozone economy.
• Latvia: Adopted the euro in 2014.
• Lithuania: The last Baltic state to join, in 2015.
• Luxembourg: Founding member and a global financial hub.
• Malta: Joined the eurozone in 2008.
• Netherlands: Founding member since 1999.
• Portugal: Founding member since 1999.
• Slovakia: Adopted the euro in 2009.
• Slovenia: The first post-communist state to join, in 2007.
• Spain: Founding member and the eurozone's fourth-largest economy.

These 20 countries share a single monetary policy set by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Twelve of them were part of the original launch group, while the remaining eight joined between 2007 and 2023 as they met the convergence criteria. Together the eurozone represents one of the largest single-currency areas on the planet.

Bulgaria Joins as the 21st Member in 2026

• Bulgaria: Adopts the euro on 1 January 2026, becoming the 21st eurozone member.

Bulgaria's currency, the lev, had been pegged to the euro (and previously the German mark) for decades, giving the country a long track record of exchange-rate stability. After meeting the convergence criteria on inflation, public finances, and interest rates, Bulgaria received approval to adopt the euro, replacing the lev at a fixed conversion rate. This brings the total number of eurozone countries to 21.

Non-EU Countries That Use the Euro

• Andorra: Uses the euro under a formal monetary agreement with the EU and mints its own euro coins.
• Monaco: Uses the euro by agreement and issues its own euro coins.
• San Marino: Uses the euro by agreement and mints euro coins.
• Vatican City: Uses the euro by agreement and issues collectible euro coins.
• Montenegro: Uses the euro unilaterally, without a formal agreement.
• Kosovo: Uses the euro unilaterally as its de facto currency.

The four European microstates use the euro through official monetary agreements with the European Union, which even allow them to mint their own euro coins. Montenegro and Kosovo, by contrast, adopted the euro unilaterally after the breakup of Yugoslavia, without joining the EU or securing formal agreements. Because they use the currency de facto, they have no say in European Central Bank policy.

Why Some EU Countries Do Not Use the Euro

Several EU members still use their own currencies. Denmark negotiated a formal opt-out and keeps the krone, which is pegged to the euro. Sweden has no opt-out but has declined to join, keeping the krona. Other EU states such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Romania are legally committed to adopting the euro eventually but have not yet met the criteria or chosen to join. This is why the number of EU members exceeds the number of eurozone countries.

Key Facts

• Twenty EU countries use the euro as of 2026, rising to 21 when Bulgaria joins on 1 January 2026.
• The euro was introduced as an electronic currency in 1999 and as cash in 2002.
• The European Central Bank in Frankfurt sets monetary policy for the whole eurozone.
• Around 350 million people use the euro daily across the eurozone.
• The euro is the world's second most-held reserve currency after the US dollar.

Quick Questions

How many countries use the euro in 2026?

Twenty EU countries use the euro at the start of 2026, and Bulgaria becomes the 21st when it adopts the currency on 1 January 2026. When you include non-EU users like the microstates, Montenegro, and Kosovo, the euro circulates in more than 25 countries and territories.

Is the eurozone the same as the European Union?

No. The European Union has more member states than the eurozone. All eurozone countries are EU members, but not all EU members use the euro. Countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Poland remain in the EU while keeping their own national currencies.

Which was the most recent country to adopt the euro before Bulgaria?

Croatia was the most recent, adopting the euro on 1 January 2023 and becoming the 20th eurozone member. Bulgaria follows exactly three years later on 1 January 2026 as the 21st member.