De facto currency
A de facto currency is a unit of money that is not legal tender in a country but is treated as such by most of the populace. The United States dollar and the European Union euro are the most common de facto currencies.
Euro
The following countries use the euro as their de facto currency:
- Andorra (prior to June 2013)
- Kosovo
- Montenegro
United States dollar
The following countries use the USD as their de facto currency:
- Aruba - Most hotels, restaurants, and transportation are priced in dollars.
- Cambodia - Most hotels, restaurants, and transportation are priced in dollars.[1]
- Dominican Republic - acceptable in many places, including airports to pay temporary visa fees for non-US/Dominican visits.
- East Timor-independent from Indonesian
- Iraq - American commercial, governmental and military involvement due to the Iraq War and the Iraqi Dinar's low value has made the US dollar highly preferred.
- Lebanon
- Panama
- Zimbabwe
Russian ruble
The following disputed territories have the Russian ruble as their de facto currency:
South African rand and Botswana pula
Due to hyperinflation in Zimbabwe in 2006 to 2008, the government of Zimbabwe has allowed circulation of foreign currency since September 2008 and local currency became obsolete since 12 April 2009. Both South African rand and Botswana pula circulate in Zimbabwe.