Exchange rates and conversions
South African Rand (ZAR)
1 ZAR = 0.06029 USD = 0.05425 EUR
The South African rand (ZAR) is the currency of South Africa, issued by the South African Reserve Bank. It is written R and divides into 100 cents.
Updated Nov 12, 2026, 12:02 AM
Common ZAR amounts
Updated Nov 12, 2026, 12:02 AM
ZAR against the major currencies
| Currency | 1 ZAR = | 1 unit in ZAR |
|---|---|---|
| USDUS Dollar | 0.06029 | 16.5874 |
| EUREuro | 0.05425 | 18.4332 |
| GBPBritish Pound | 0.04536 | 22.0454 |
| JPYJapanese Yen | 9.6165 | 0.10399 |
| CHFSwiss Franc | 0.05015 | 19.9407 |
| CADCanadian Dollar | 0.08585 | 11.6488 |
| AUDAustralian Dollar | 0.08798 | 11.3663 |
| CNYChinese Yuan | 0.40306 | 2.4810 |
| INRIndian Rupee | 5.6580 | 0.17674 |
| XOFWest African CFA Franc | 35.5855 | 0.02810 |
| XAFCentral African CFA Franc | 35.5855 | 0.02810 |
| MADMoroccan Dirham | 0.59094 | 1.6922 |
| NGNNigerian Naira | 81.3762 | 0.01229 |
| BRLBrazilian Real | 0.33596 | 2.9766 |
| MXNMexican Peso | 1.1230 | 0.89049 |
| RUBRussian Ruble | 4.9883 | 0.20047 |
| TRYTurkish Lira | 3.0311 | 0.32992 |
| AEDUAE Dirham | 0.22140 | 4.5167 |
| SARSaudi Riyal | 0.22607 | 4.4233 |
| SEKSwedish Krona | 0.60013 | 1.6663 |
| NOKNorwegian Krone | 0.57547 | 1.7377 |
| PLNPolish Zloty | 0.23921 | 4.1805 |
| KRWSouth Korean Won | 80.5794 | 0.01241 |
| SGDSingapore Dollar | 0.07739 | 12.9220 |
The figure shown is the mid-market rate: the midpoint between the buy and sell price, dated on the page. It is the rate before any margin is added, so a bank or a bureau de change will quote you a lower one.
About the South African Rand
The rand replaced the South African pound in 1961, the year the country became a republic. Its name comes from the Witwatersrand, the gold-bearing ridge on which Johannesburg was built, which is a fair summary of what still moves it: South Africa exports gold, platinum and coal, and the rand follows the price of what it sells.
The rand floats freely and is one of the most heavily traded emerging-market currencies, which is also why it is one of the most volatile. It travels beyond South Africa's borders: within the Common Monetary Area, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia peg their own currencies to the rand at par and accept South African notes alongside them.
The rand is the currency of South Africa and circulates in Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia, whose own currencies are pegged to it at par.
ZAR at a glance
- Symbol
- R
- Subunit
- 1 rand = 100 cents
- Central bank
- South African Reserve Bank (SARB), based in Pretoria
- Introduced
- 1961
- ISO 4217 code
- ZAR
Most-viewed conversions from ZAR
- ZAR → USD1 ZAR = 0.06029 USD
- ZAR → EUR1 ZAR = 0.05425 EUR
- ZAR → GBP1 ZAR = 0.04536 GBP
- ZAR → JPY1 ZAR = 9.6165 JPY
- ZAR → CHF1 ZAR = 0.05015 CHF
- ZAR → CAD1 ZAR = 0.08585 CAD
- ZAR → AUD1 ZAR = 0.08798 AUD
- ZAR → CNY1 ZAR = 0.40306 CNY
- ZAR → INR1 ZAR = 5.6580 INR
- ZAR → XOF1 ZAR = 35.5855 XOF
- ZAR → XAF1 ZAR = 35.5855 XAF
- ZAR → MAD1 ZAR = 0.59094 MAD
Conversions into ZAR
FAQ
What is the currency of South Africa?
South Africa uses the rand, ISO code ZAR, issued by the South African Reserve Bank. One rand divides into 100 cents and amounts are written with an R before the figure, as in R250.
Why is the rand so volatile?
The rand is freely floating, heavily traded and tied to commodity exports, so it reacts to metal prices, to interest rate decisions and to global risk sentiment all at once. Moves of several percent within a few days are common, which is why a rate you noted last week is not a reliable guide today.
Can I pay in rand in Namibia?
Yes. Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini belong to the Common Monetary Area and peg their currencies to the rand at par, and South African notes are accepted there. The reverse does not hold: Namibian dollars and the other local currencies are generally not accepted in South Africa.
Follow the ZAR from your phone
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