Direct usage

The euro is the solo currency of 16 EU Member states: Austria , Belgium,Cyprus,Finland,France,Germany,Greece,Ireland,Italy,Luxembourg,Malta,the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. These countries compose the "eurozone", some 326 million people in total. Estonia is expected to join in 2011, subject to approval from the Council.

With all but two of the remaining EU members obliged to join, together with future members of the EU, the enlargement of the eurozone is set to continue further. Outside the EU, the euro is also the sole currency of Montenegro and Kosovo and several European micro states (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City) as well as in three overseas territories of EU states that are not themselves part of the EU (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Akrotiri and Dhekelia). Together this direct usage of the euro outside the EU affects over 3 million people.

It is also gaining increasing international usage as a trading currency, in Cuba,[29] North Korea and Syria. There are also various currencies pegged to the euro .In 2009 Zimbabwe abandoned its local currency and used major currencies instead, including the euro and the United States dollar.