What country uses the gourde as its currency?

The country that uses the gourde as its currency is Haiti.

The Haitian gourde, written as gourde or goud in Haitian Creole, is Haiti’s official currency. Its international ISO 4217 currency code is HTG, and it is issued by the Banque de la République d’Haïti, Haiti’s central bank. One gourde is divided into 100 centimes in French or santim in Haitian Creole.

The currency has a long and complicated history. The first gourde was introduced in 1813, replacing the livre. Haiti has used three distinct gourde issues: the first from 1813 to 1870, a brief revalued second gourde from 1870 to 1872, and the third gourde, introduced in 1872, which remains in use today.

The word “gourde” is connected to the Spanish “gordo,” associated with heavy Spanish silver coins. Another common mix-up is the Haitian dollar: it is not a separate official currency. In everyday price language, five gourdes may be called one Haitian dollar, a custom linked to an old exchange relationship.