2026-10-21 · 15 min read · Visa Ray Team

Countries, capitals and currencies: a complete A to Z list of 197 countries (2026)

This is a quick reference to the capital city and official currency of 197 countries and territories, in alphabetical order. Each country name links to its Visa Ray destination guide, so you can go from "which currency do they use?" to "which visa options exist?" in one click. Use it when you plan a trip, compare costs, or check your budget for a visa fee quoted in a foreign currency.

How to use this list

• Currency code is the three-letter ISO 4217 code you will see on bank transfers, visa fee pages and exchange-rate sites (for example EUR, USD or JPY).
• Capital is the seat of government or the official capital. Where a country has more than one centre, or the capital is disputed or special, we say so in brackets.
• Visa fees are often quoted in a local currency or in US dollars. Always check the official site for the current amount, and remember that exchange rates move daily.

Recent changes to know about

• Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev. Bulgaria is now the 21st euro-area country.
• Zimbabwe replaced its previous dollar with Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) in April 2024, and the ISO code changed to ZWG.
• Venezuela: from 1 February 2026 the code VES (bolívar soberano) replaced VED (bolívar digital) in some trade systems.
• Syria removed two zeros from the Syrian pound and began swapping old notes for new ones from late 2025. Check the current exchange rules before you travel.
• Croatia has used the euro since 1 January 2023.

Capitals and currencies, A to Z

Countries that share a currency

The euro

The euro is used by 21 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Several non-EU places use it too, either by agreement (Andorra, Monaco and San Marino) or on their own decision (Kosovo and Montenegro).

The CFA francs

Two groups of African countries share a franc that is pegged to the euro:

• West African CFA franc (XOF): Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
• Central African CFA franc (XAF): Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The two francs are not interchangeable with each other, even though they have the same value against the euro.

The East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Countries that use the US dollar

Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau and Timor-Leste use the US dollar. Panama uses the US dollar alongside its own balboa coins.

Other shared currencies

• Australian dollar: Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu use Australian currency (Kiribati and Tuvalu also issue their own coins).
• Swiss franc: Liechtenstein shares it with Switzerland.

Same name, different currency

Many currencies share a name, so check the country and code:

• Dollar: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States and many others, all with different values.
• Franc: Switzerland, Burundi, Comoros, Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Guinea and the two CFA francs.
• Pound: United Kingdom, Egypt, Lebanon, South Sudan, Sudan and Syria.
• Dinar: Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Serbia and Tunisia.
• Peso: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the Philippines and Uruguay.
• Rupee: India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka.
• Riyal or rial: Iran, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
• Krone or krona: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Czech koruna and Icelandic króna.
• Shilling: Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Tips for travellers and visa applicants

1. Use the three-letter code when you search for an exchange rate, to avoid mix-ups between dollars or pounds.
2. Check the fee currency on the official visa page. A fee in euros or US dollars can differ from the local-currency amount you pay at a counter.
3. Carry some local cash, since cards are not accepted everywhere and some currencies cannot be bought outside the country.
4. Watch inflation. In countries with high inflation, prices and exchange rates can change quickly. Look up a live rate before you pay.
5. Keep receipts for visa fees and financial proof, since some embassies ask for them.

Related guides

If you are comparing countries for remote work, see our best digital nomad destinations guide, and browse every country on the destinations page. Capitals and currencies are reference facts. Visa Ray's data may lag behind recent changes, so confirm important details with official sources.

Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. Rules and fees change, so always confirm current figures with the official government source before you apply. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray to see which pathways fit your profile.