Ethiopian Birr (ETB)

Basic Concept of Ethiopian Birr

The Ethiopian Birr is the official currency of Ethiopia, issued and managed by the National Bank of Ethiopia, with the currency code ETB and the common symbol "Br".

Countries of Use

The Ethiopian Birr circulates only in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and is the only legal tender in the country, used for all daily transactions and economic activities.

Unit and Denomination

1 Birr is equal to 100 cents, and currently circulating banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 200 Birr, and coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, as well as 1 Birr.

Historical Background

The Ethiopian Birr was first introduced in 1894 and used to be known as the Ethiopian Dollar until 1976. After a number of currency reforms, the current version was introduced in 1997, reflecting the country's economic development and the evolution of its monetary policy.