The currency “Rand” (currency code ZAR) is the legal tender of which country?

Introduction / Context:
International current affairs and economic questions often test familiarity with major world currencies and their corresponding countries. The Rand, with the international currency code ZAR, is one such currency commonly mentioned in news related to African markets, commodity prices and emerging economies. This question checks whether you can correctly identify the country that uses the Rand as its official currency.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The currency name “Rand” and its code “ZAR” are given.
• Four African countries are listed: Burundi, Libya, Sudan and South Africa.
• We assume basic awareness of widely traded currencies in Africa and globally.

Concept / Approach:
The key connection to remember is that the Rand is the currency of South Africa. Its currency code ZAR comes from the Dutch name “Zuid-Afrikaanse Rand”. Burundi uses the Burundian Franc, Libya uses the Libyan Dinar and Sudan has its own pound currency. By matching each country to its correct currency, we can safely identify which one uses the Rand and eliminate the distractors.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that South Africa is one of the largest and most industrialised economies in Africa, and its currency is called the South African Rand. Step 2: Recognise that the international currency code for the South African Rand is ZAR, derived from the Dutch term “Zuid-Afrikaanse Rand”. Step 3: Consider Burundi. Its currency is the Burundian Franc, not the Rand. Step 4: Consider Libya. Libya uses the Libyan Dinar as its official currency. Step 5: Consider Sudan. Sudan uses the Sudanese Pound as its currency. Step 6: Since South Africa alone uses the Rand, the correct answer must be South Africa.

Verification / Alternative check:
News reports on gold and commodity markets frequently quote prices in South African Rand, often using the code ZAR. Financial market tickers also list ZAR among actively traded currencies and always associate it with South Africa. In contrast, when international news discusses economic developments in Burundi, Libya or Sudan, different currency names are used. Standard general knowledge books and currency tables also clearly match Rand (ZAR) with South Africa, confirming this as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Burundi: Its official currency is the Burundian Franc (BIF), not the Rand.
• Libya: It uses the Libyan Dinar (LYD) as its currency.
• Sudan: The Sudanese Pound (SDG) is the legal tender, not the Rand.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse different African currencies because the region names may be less familiar. Another common error is to assume that any African country listed could use the Rand, especially if one does not recall the exact currency of South Africa. A simple way to remember is to link “Rand” directly with “South African Rand” and the code ZAR, and to recall South Africa status as a major economy whose currency often appears in global market news.

Final Answer:
South Africa