Monthly currency in circulation in the euro area 1997-2022

The total value of currency in circulation in the Euro area has seen a year on year increase between 2009 and 2019. As of 2019, the average value per capita of euros was approximately 3.6 thousand euros. Despite an overall rise across the Euro area, the United Kingdom (UK) has seen a decrease of banknotes in circulation between 2017 and 2018.

Rise of digital payments

Despite the overall rise of banknotes in circulation in the Euro Area, most countries are seeing a movement away from traditional payment methods and a rise in digital payments. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of card payments in the European Union increased by more than 20 billion payments. The United Kingdom, France and Germany saw the highest number of cashless payments during 2017.

Counterfeit banknotes

During the second half of 2019, the number of counterfeit notes withdrawn from circulation amounted to 308 thousand. Across Europe, 20 and 50 euro banknotes are the most likely to be counterfeited.