XAFCentral African CFA FrancCentral African CFA Franc (XAF)
XAF is the shared Central African CFA franc used by six CEMAC economies.
- ISO code
- XAF
- Symbol
- FCFA
- Region
- Africa
- Currency type
- Fiat currency
- Exchange system
- Fixed parity with the euro
- Last reviewed
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Quick facts
XAF at a glance
Currency profile
How XAF works
XAF is the shared Central African CFA franc used by six CEMAC economies.
BEAC issues XAF within the Central African monetary union and maintains the currency's euro-linked framework.
- XAF is a shared regional currency rather than a national currency.
- It has a fixed parity with the euro but is not interchangeable with XOF.
Context
Why this currency matters
XAF demonstrates how several sovereign economies can share one central-bank framework. Its identical euro parity with XOF does not merge the two into one transferable currency.
Monetary framework
Exchange arrangement
XAF is maintained at a fixed parity with the euro within the BEAC monetary framework.
CurrencyHub shows daily reference rates. Banks, card networks, ATMs and transfer providers may apply different exchange rates, fees or spreads.
History timeline
Key dates for XAF
CFA franc created
The CFA franc was created during the post-war monetary reorganization.
Bank of Central African States - historyBEAC established
The Central African issue moved into the BEAC institutional framework.
Bank of Central African States - historyEuro parity adopted
The fixed relationship was expressed against the euro after the euro replaced the French franc as anchor.
Bank of Central African States - monetary policy framework
Usage and economy
How XAF is used
- Prices and payments in the six CEMAC member economies.
- Regional trade and comparisons with XOF, EUR and neighboring currencies.
Banknotes and coins
XAF currency units
BEAC manages the banknote framework used for XAF across the CEMAC currency area.
BEAC manages the coin framework used for XAF across the CEMAC currency area.
One Central African CFA Franc unit is recorded with 0 decimal places and uses Centime as its minor unit.
Related currencies
Currency relationships
Explore currencies connected through regional use, trade comparisons or monetary relationships.
Currency topics
FAQ
XAF questions
Are XAF and XOF the same currency?
No. XAF is issued by BEAC for the Central African union; XOF is issued by BCEAO for the West African union. They are not interchangeable.
Why is XAF linked to the euro?
The euro link forms part of the official Central African monetary arrangement administered through BEAC.
Which countries use XAF?
XAF is shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Why can XAF change against USD?
The XAF/EUR parity can remain fixed while EUR/USD changes, producing a changing XAF/USD cross-rate.
Sources
Data and editorial review
Rate source: Frankfurter
Last reviewed:
Currency identity and cash information is checked against central-bank, government, ISO and official international sources.