Official country name: Republic of the Union of Myanmar
The Myanmar Kyat is the official currency unit of Myanmar since 1990. Though the official exchange rate has remained at 7 Kyats = 1 US Dollar, the Kyat is known for its widely variable rate, which can go as high as 1,000 Kyats per USD.
Currency History
- The first Kyat was issued in both gold and silver coins in Burma until 1889. Apparently, 16 silver Kyats were equal to 1 gold Kyat. The value of the silver Kyat was equal to the Indian Rupee, which replaced the Kyat when Burma was conquered by the British.
- The Rupee was introduced when Burma was ruled under the Japanese in 1942. In 1943 the Kyat currency was reintroduced to replace the Rupee. Then the Kyat was unvalued after the end of the war, when the Rupee returned to circulation.
- The current Kyat used in Myanmar was introduced on July 1, 1952, and remained in circulation until 1989. During that time, old banknotes were withdrawn due to inflation and the reduction of its value.
1 Kyat = 100 Pyas; ISO code = MMK 104
1st December 2024, 1 USD = 1,307.74 kyats; 1 Euro = 1,521.10 kyats
Country state: Complete
CENTRAL BANK OF MYANMAR
- ND (1990-1998) Issue
50 Pyas P-68; B-102 Color: Purple and brown Dimensions: 110 x 55 mm
Front: “Saung gauk” (Burmese bow harp).
Back: Guilloche.
Security thread: None.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: CBM.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Date: ND. Intro: 27.03.1994. | FV | 0.30 |
1 Kyat P-67; B-101 Color: Brown and orange Dimensions: 131 x 62 mm
Front: General Aung San.
Back: Wooden sculpture of two dragons.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: General Aung San.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Date: ND Prefix: OG – WO. Intro: 01.03.1990. | FV | 0.30 |
1 Kyat P-69; B-103 Color: Purple and blue Dimensions: 110 x 55 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: National Regatta on Lake; Karaweik hall, Rangoon.
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: CBM.
Date: ND Intro: 31.10.1996.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Thin paper. | FV | 0.30 |
| b. Thick paper. | FV | 0.30 |
5 Kyats P-70; B-104 Color: Brown Dimensions: 130 x 62 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: “Chinlone” (cane ball game – traditional sport in Burma; mixture between ball game and dance).
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Date: ND (1995) Intro: 01.05.1995.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Watermark: Fine, Chinthe and 5 (Burma characters). Prefix: AK. | FV | 0.75 |
| b. Watermark: Coarse, Chinthe and 5 (Burma characters). Prefix: CM – CX. | FV | 0.50 |
10 Kyats P-71; B-105 Color: Purple and violet Dimensions: 130 x 62 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: “Pyi Gyi Mon Hpaundaw” (royal state barge; replica in the waters of the Mandalay palace),
Security thread: Solid.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Date: ND (1995) Intro: 01.05.1995.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Watermark: Fine, Chinthe and 10 (Burma characters). Prefix: AM – AS. | FV | 1.00 |
| b. Watermark: Coarse, Chinthe and 10 (Burma characters). Prefix: CI – DE. | FV | 0.50 |
20 Kyats P-72; B-106 Color: Green Dimensions: 146 x 70 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Elephant fountain (Peoples park, Rangoon).
Security thread: Solid security thread with printed Burmese.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Date: ND (1994) Intro: 27.03.1994.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Watermark: Fine, Chinthe and 20 (Burma characters). Prefix: AB. | FV | 1.00 |
| b. Watermark: Coarse, Chinthe and 20 (Burma characters). Prefix: DG. | FV | 1.00 |
Current banknotes
50 Kyats (US$0.04; €0.03) P-73; B-107 Color: Red-brown Dimensions: 146 x 70 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Varnishing artist (lacquerware industry).
Security thread: Solid security thread with printed Burmese.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Dates: ND (1994, 1997).
a. Watermark: Chinthe. Prefix: AB – AF. Intro: 27.03.1994.
b. Watermark: Chinthe and 50 (Burma characters). Prefix: AP – EN. Intro: 01.03.1995.
100 Kyats ((US$0.08; €0.07) P-74; B-108 Color: Blue-violet Dimensions: 146 x 70 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Working on traditional decorative stucco.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Date: ND (1994, 1996).
a. Watermark: Chinze bust without value (1994). Solid security thread with printed Burmese. Prefix: AB Intro: 27.03.1994.
b. Watermark: Chinze bust over value (1996).Windowed security thread with demetalized SPW. Prefix: AR – EG. Intro: 17.07.1996.
200 Kyats (US$0.15; €0.13) P-75; B-109 Color: Blue and green Dimensions: 167 x 80 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Elephant dragging a log.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Date: ND (1990, 1995) Intro: 30.09.2004.
a. Watermark: Chinze bust without value (1990). Solid security thread with printed Burmese. Prefix: BA – BQ Intro: 27.03.1990.
b. Watermark: Chinze bust over value (1995).Windowed security thread with demetalized SPW. Prefix: CG – EU Intro: 16.08.1995.
P-78; B-112a; Reduced size 150 x 70 mm. Prefix: QA – SE. Intro: 30.09.2004.
500 Kyats (US$0.38; €0.33) P-76; B-110 Color: Brown Dimensions: 167 x 79 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Casting bronze and working on a statue of General Maha Bandula.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized SPW.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: Chinthe and 500.
Date: ND (1994, 1995)
a. Watermark: Chinze bust without value (1994). Solid security thread with printed Burmese. Prefix; AB – AP Intro: 27.03.1994.
b. Watermark: Chinze bust over value (1995).Windowed security thread with demetalized SPW. Prefix: BC – RI Intro: 19.10.1995.
P-79; B-113a; Reduced size 150 x 70 mm. Prefix: RA – SF Intro: 30.09.2004.
1 000 Kyats (US$0.76; €0.66) P-77; B-111 Color: Green and purple Dimensions: 177x 80 mm
Front: Chinze (King Lion).
Back: Central Bank of Myanmar building, Rangoon.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized K1000.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: Chinthe and 1000 (Burma characters).
Date: ND (1998) Prefix AB – FL Intro: 25.11.1998.
P-80; B-114a; Reduced size 150 x 70 mm. Prefix: GO – WJ Intro: 30.09.2004.
5 000 Kyats (US$3.82; €3.29) P-81; B-115 Color: Pink and purple Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm
Front: Elephant.
Back: Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union) legislature buildings.
Security thread: Color-changing windowed security thread with demetalized Spw MYANMAR CBm.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI CBM.
Watermark: Elephant and electrotype 5000.
Date: ND (2009) Prefix: AB – EG Intro: 01.10.2009.
P-83; B-117 Date: ND (2014) Prefix: GN Intro: 01.10.2014.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized K5000.
10 000 Kyats (US$7.65; €6.57) P-82; B-116 Color: Blue, red and green Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm
Front: Guilloche patterns; two elephants flanking laurel wreath with outline map of Myanmar.
Back: Royal Palace of Mandalay.
Security thread: Windowed security with demetalized MYANMAR SPW.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WORKS (in microprint).
Watermark: Lotus blossom and electrotype ၁၀၀၀၀ (10,000).
Date: ND Prefix: AC – BE. Intro: 15.06.2012.
P-84; B-118 Date: ND Prefix: BN Intro: 01.07.2015
Like the previous banknote but with denomination at lower right on front (in Burmese numerals) printed with “SPARK” with a protective layer of vanish on both sides to extend the circulation life of the note. Different watermark area.
- ND (2019-2020) Issue
500 Kyats (US$0.38; €0.33) P-85; B-118.5 Color: Red Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm
Front: General Aung San.
Back: Governmental buildings.
Security thread: Windowed with demetalized SPW.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: General Aung San.
Date: ND (2020). Intro: 19.07.2020.
1 000 Kyats (US$0.76; €0.66) P-86; B-119a Color: Blue Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm
Front: General Aung San.
Back: Hluttaw (National Parliament) complex, Naypyidaw.
Security thread: Windowed security with demetalized 5000 CBM SPW.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: General Aung San.
Date: ND (2019). Prefix: AC. Intro: 04.01.2020.
Commemorative issue
20 000 Kyats (US$15.29; €13.15) P-87; B-120 Color: Green and yellow Dimensions: 150 x 70 mm
Front: Standing white elephant facing left.
Back: Sagaing Bridge and Irrawaddy Bridge.
Security thread: Green-to-gold windowed security thread.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WAZI.
Watermark: Head of Yadana white elephant and electrotype 20000.
Date: ND. Intro: 31.07.2023.
Note: This 20,000-kyat banknote commemorates the completion of a 24.7 meter (81 feet) marble statue of seated Buddha in Naypyitaw, and the first birthday of a white male elephant, Rattha Nandaka, born by a 33-year-old female elephant called Zar Nan Hla from the Myanma Timber Enterprise in Taungup Township of Rakhine State.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE CERTIFICATES
US Dollar System
1 Dollar P-FX1; B-FX101 Color: Blue Dimensions: 152 x 65 mm
Front: Nat Thar dancer with lotus bud.
Back: Text at center flanked by guilloches.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WORKS.
Watermark: None.
Date: ND. Prefix: AB- AF. Intro: 04.02.1993.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. W/o security thread. | – | 15. |
| b. W/ security thread. | – | 15. |
5 Dollars P-FX2; B-FX102 Color: Maroon and yellow Dimensions: 152 x 65 mm
Front: Nat Thar dancer with lotus bud.
Back: Text at center flanked by guilloches.
Security thread: None.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WORKS.
Watermark: None.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Date: ND. Prefix: BA-BD. Intro: 04.02.1993. | 5.00 | 15. |
10 Dollars P-FX3; B-FX103 Color: Green and blue Dimensions: 152 x 65 mm
Front: Nat Thar dancer with lotus bud.
Back: Text at center flanked by guilloches.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WORKS.
Watermark: None.
Date: ND. Prefix: CA-CD. Intro: 04.02.1993.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. W/o security thread. | – | 40. |
| b. W/ security thread. | – | 40. |
20 Dollars P-FX4; B-FX104 Color: Yellow and brown Dimensions: 152 x 65 mm
Front: Nat Thar dancer with lotus bud.
Back: Text at center flanked by guilloches.
Security thread: None.
Printer: SECURITY PRINTING WORKS.
Watermark: None.
| Description | VF | UNC |
| a. Date: ND. Prefix: DA. Intro: 25.04.1996. | – | 65. |
Terms of import and export of currencies
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Myanmar Kyat-MMK): prohibited.
Foreign currencies: unlimited. Nationals of Myanmar must declare all foreign currency upon arrival. Foreigners must declare amounts exceeding USD 10,000.- or equivalent.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Myanmar Kyat-MMK): prohibited.
Foreign currencies:
– nationals of Myanmar: export permit required;
– foreign nationals: unlimited, if holding proof of ownership.
Notes
Year of issue on the banknotes is missing.