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BGN · BGN

Bulgarian Lev (BGN)

The Bulgarian Lev (BGN) is the official currency of Bulgaria, pegged to the euro at a fixed rate. Learn about its history, banknotes, and coins.

1 USD1.6567 BGN

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Converted amount

0.6036 USD

Exchange rate
1 BGN = 0.603610 USD

Updated
8/9/2026 12:00 AM

Source
ApiForex Managed Source 3

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BGN · Bulgarian Lev

Bulgarian Lev (BGN): Overview and History

The Bulgarian Lev (BGN) has been the official currency of Bulgaria since 1881, with a brief interruption during World War II. The name 'lev' means 'lion' in archaic Bulgarian, symbolizing strength. The currency is issued by the Bulgarian National Bank and is subdivided into 100 stotinki.

Since 1997, the lev has been pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 1.95583 leva per euro, following a currency board arrangement. This peg provides stability and has helped anchor inflation expectations. Bulgaria is expected to adopt the euro in the future, but no official date has been set.

Banknotes in circulation include denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 leva, featuring prominent Bulgarian historical figures. Coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 stotinki, as well as 1 and 2 leva. The lev is widely used in Bulgaria, and cash remains popular, though card payments are increasingly common.

Code
BGN
Symbol
BGN
Current rate
USD / BGN

Currency information

Last updated · 8/7/2026

Introduced in 1881, with the current lev introduced in 1999.

Official name
Bulgarian Lev
Legal tender status
Legal tender in Bulgaria
Decimal places
2
Minor unit
stotinka · 1 BGN = 100 stotinka
Countries
Bulgaria
Issuing authority
Bulgarian National Bank
Central bank
Bulgarian National Bank · Official website
Exchange-rate regime
Currency board arrangement

Common banknotes

5 lev · 10 lev · 20 lev · 50 lev · 100 lev

Common coins

1 stotinka · 2 stotinki · 5 stotinki · 10 stotinki · 20 stotinki · 50 stotinki · 1 lev · 2 lev

Also known as

Lev · Leva (plural) · Bulgarian Lev · BGN · лв

Practical notes

  • The lev is pegged to the euro and is expected to be replaced by the euro upon Bulgaria's adoption of the euro.

Priority currency pairs

The most useful conversions for this currency.

Bulgarian Lev questions

What is the BGN exchange rate?

The displayed rate is the latest available reference rate for USD/BGN. It can change throughout the day.

How can I convert BGN online?

Use the converter above to calculate indicative amounts between BGN and the other supported currencies.