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CFA franc countries

14 African countries use a CFA franc: eight in West Africa and six in Central Africa.

The full list

West Africa: UEMOA, issued by the BCEAO 8

Eight states share the West African CFA franc; the 2019 agreement with France ended reserve pooling in Paris and French seats on the BCEAO's bodies.

• 🇧🇯Benin
• 🇧🇫Burkina Faso
• 🇨🇮Côte d'Ivoire
• 🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau
• 🇲🇱Mali
• 🇳🇪Niger
• 🇸🇳Senegal
• 🇹🇬Togo

Central Africa: CEMAC, issued by the BEAC 6

Six states share the Central African CFA franc under the older terms: half their reserves held in Paris and French seats on the BEAC board.

• 🇨🇲Cameroon
• 🇨🇫Central African Republic
• 🇹🇩Chad
• 🇨🇬Republic of the Congo
• 🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea
• 🇬🇦Gabon

Not on the list

• Comoros: Uses the Comorian franc, a separate currency issued by the Central Bank of the Comoros under its own 1979 agreement with France and fixed at 491.96775 to the euro.
• Mauritania: A founding member of the West African Monetary Union in 1962 that later left.
• The eco (ECOWAS single currency): Not yet in circulation anywhere.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Issues its own Congolese franc and is not a CEMAC member.

Questions

How many countries use the CFA franc?

14 African countries use a CFA franc: eight in West Africa and six in Central Africa.

Which countries are on the list?

Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

What is an easy way to remember them?

8 + 6: two currencies with two central banks, the West African eight and the Central African six.

More lists

Each name checked against at least two sources, one of them BCEAO, on 4 October 2026. Next review by 4 April 2027.
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