Congolese Franc (CDF)

Basic Concepts of the Congolese Franc

The Congolese Franc is the official currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the ISO code CDF, and is issued and managed by the country's central bank, primarily for daily transactions and savings.

Countries of Use

The Congolese franc circulates only within the Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only legal tender in the country, covering commerce in both urban and rural areas.

Units and Denominations

The Congolese franc is divided into coins and banknotes, with the primary unit being the franc and the secondary unit being the cent (1 franc = 100 cents). Common coin denominations include 1, 5, and 10 francs, and banknotes are available in denominations of 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 francs.

Historical Background

The Congolese franc was first introduced in 1997 to replace the previous Zairean currency in response to high inflation and economic reforms. Its development has been influenced by political changes in the Congo, and the exchange rate has been gradually stabilized through policy adjustments in recent years.