Currency localization: Understanding the key elements

When shopping online, it’s safe to say that everyone wants to see the financial information in a format they’re familiar with. No one wants to waste time figuring out how much they’re actually paying. If you’re a business operating internationally, currency localization is more than just a nice-to-have. But it means more than just swapping one symbol for another, because different countries use unique symbols, number formats, and scripts. Here are some important considerations you need to know about.

Currency symbols and codes

First and foremost, when it comes to currency localization, you need to make sure that the correct currency symbols and codes are used. Every currency has a unique symbol that helps users quickly recognize it. In addition to symbols, international transactions often require the use of standardized ISO 4217 currency codes to avoid ambiguity.

Here are some common examples:

• US Dollar – Symbol: $, Code: USD
• Australian Dollar – Symbol: $ (also abbreviated A$ or AU$), Code: AUD
• Euro – Symbol: €, Code: EUR
• British Pound Sterling – Symbol £, Code: GBP
• Japanese Yen – Symbol: ¥, Code: JPY

Some currencies share similar symbols, which can sometimes create confusion. The globally recognized three-letter code system that helps prevent confusion when dealing with currencies that share similar symbols. For instance, the US Dollar, the Australian Dollar, the Mexican Peso (MXN), and the Philippine Peso (PHP) use the $ symbol, so also adding the currency code is essential in these cases in distinguish them.

Placement of currency symbols

Currency localization is not just about using the correct symbols, it’s also placing them correctly. In English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada, the currency symbol is usually placed before the numerical value (e.g., $100). Same goes for Asian countries like China and Japan. In Europe, however, we usually see the symbol positioned after the number (e.g., 100 €).

What about RTL scripts?

In right-to-left (RTL) scripts, such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian, numbers are typically written in the same left-to-right (LTR) order as in Latin-based scripts. In Arabic-speaking countries, currency symbols or abbreviations are often placed before the number, similar to English. In Hebrew and Persian, they are usually placed after the number.

Also worth noting is that some regions use Arabic-Indic digits (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩) instead of Western numerals (0123456789). In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Arabic-Indic digits are common, but in Morocco, Lebanon, and Israel, Western numerals are more commonly used. Ideally, you should allow users to choose between Arabic-Indic and Western numerals based on their preference.

Currency names

In some cases, currency names are also translated into local languages to improve user understanding. For example, the Japanese Yen is commonly written as 円, the Indian Rupee is often represented in Hindi as रुपया, the Egyptian Pound may be written as ج.م, while the Saudi Riyal is abbreviated as ر.س. In China, the official currency name is the Renminbi (人民币), although the unit of exchange is typically referred to as 元 (Yuan) in everyday transactions.

Decimal and thousands separators

As we mentioned in our article on number localization, countries also use different conventions for decimal and thousands separators. Separators are important too in currency localization; their placement can greatly impact the interpretation of numerical values.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, a comma is used as a thousands separator, while a period is used for decimals. However, many European countries use a period as the thousands separator and a comma for decimals. Some countries, such as Switzerland, prefer a space as the thousands separator.

Here’s what we mean:

• The United Kingdom → 2,100.60
• Germany → 2.100,60
• France → 2 100,60
• Switzerland → 2’100.60

Negative numbers

There’s no standard when it comes to writing negative currency amounts, but most often than not, the minus sign ( – ) is placed before the amount in all scripts. The position of the minus sign may vary depending on the placement of the currency symbol in different locales.

Example:

• -$1,234.50 (United States, Canada)
• -1.234,50 € (Germany, Spain)
• -١٬٢٣٤٫٥٠ ر.س (Arabic – Saudi Riyal)

You may also notice that some businesses, accounting software, and financial institutions highlight negative amounts in red instead of using a minus sign. And in accounting, bookkeeping, and financial reports, negative amounts are often enclosed in parentheses to improve readability. So do keep all these in mind when doing localization.

Useful libraries for localizing currency

To ensure proper localization, developers often rely on external libraries that automatically convert currency formats based on regional conventions. We’ll be listing some popular ones:

• JavaScript libraries: Numeral.js, Intl object, Globalize.js, Currency.js
• Python libraries: Babel, PyICU, Forex-python
• Java libraries: Java’s built-in java.text.NumberFormat, Joda-Money, ICU4J
• PHP libraries: Intl (PHP internationalization functions), MoneyPHP
• C#/.NET libraries: .NET globalization and localization, Noda Money
• Ruby libraries: Money Gem, Rails I18n
• Go libraries: golang.org/x/text
• Swift/iOS libraries: NumberFormatter, Swift LocalizedCurrency

Wrapping up

Seemingly small details can make a big difference in how customers interact with prices and financial information. Currency localization can help your business reduce confusion when it comes to pricing and ensures smooth transactions. Stay aware of regional differences and keep exchange rates updated to provide a user-friendly experience no matter where your customers are.