Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Ethiopia's currency is the Birr (symbol: Br; ISO code: ETB). One birr divides into 100 santim. The National Bank of Ethiopia holds exclusive authority over all banknote and coin issuance throughout the country.
Currency overview
Established in 1963 and operational from January 1964, the National Bank of Ethiopia manages monetary policy from Addis Ababa. Until mid-2024, the bank maintained extensive foreign-exchange controls and an administratively managed official rate — producing a wide gap between official and parallel-market prices. That architecture changed dramatically on July 29, 2024, when Ethiopia shifted to a market-determined exchange rate. Simultaneously, the NBE introduced the National Bank Rate as its primary policy signal — raised to 16% by mid-2026 to contain double-digit inflation.
Few currencies trace their name through more unusual origins. Birr means
Ethiopian Birr Stats | |
|---|---|
Name | Ethiopian Birr |
Symbol | Br |
Minor unit | 1/100 = santim |
Minor unit symbol | — |
Top ETB conversion | ETB to USD |
Top ETB Chart | ETB to USD chart |
Ethiopian Birr Profile | |
|---|---|
Coins | 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 santim; Br 1 |
Bank notes | Br 1, Br 5, Br 10, Br 50, Br 100, Br 200 |
Central bank | National Bank of Ethiopia |
Users | Ethiopia |
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