The euro is one of the most widely used currencies in the world, but it isn’t automatic for every European Union member. These are the countries that are part of the Eurozone — the group that has adopted the euro as official currency.
Eurozone Member Countries
Twenty of the European Union’s 27 member states currently use the euro: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
EU Members That Don’t Use the Euro
- Sweden — has never formally adopted the euro despite being an EU member
- Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria — all EU members that have kept their own national currencies, though several are expected to eventually adopt the euro
- Denmark — has a formal opt-out from euro adoption
See economic data for any of these countries on our Rankings page.
Non-EU Countries That Also Use the Euro
A handful of countries outside the EU also use the euro, either through formal agreement or unilateral adoption: Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City use it by treaty with the EU, while Andorra also has a formal monetary agreement. Kosovo and Montenegro use the euro unilaterally without any formal agreement, having adopted it independently for stability reasons.
Why Some EU Countries Opted Out
Joining the Eurozone means giving up independent monetary policy in favor of decisions made by the European Central Bank — a trade-off similar to the one described in our piece on countries with their own currency. Sweden and Denmark, both wealthy, stable economies, have preferred to keep that independence rather than adopt the shared currency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries use the euro?
Twenty European Union member states use the euro as their official currency, plus several non-EU microstates and territories.
Does every EU country have to adopt the euro eventually?
In principle, most new EU members commit to adopting the euro eventually once they meet certain economic criteria, though Denmark has a formal legal opt-out.
Do any non-EU countries use the euro?
Yes — Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, and Andorra use the euro by formal agreement, while Kosovo and Montenegro use it unilaterally.
Compare currency and economic data for any country using our Compare tool.
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