Are milliard and billion the same

Yes, in modern usage, milliard and billion refer to the same number: 1,000,000,000 (one thousand million). However, this equivalence only applies when using the short scale numbering system, which is standard in American English and now widely adopted internationally, including in modern British English and most scientific contexts.

Historically, the term "milliard" was used in British English and many European languages to denote one thousand million, while "billion" meant one million million (what Americans would call a trillion). This long scale system created significant confusion in international communications. Today, the short scale has become dominant globally, so when you encounter "billion" in contemporary financial reports, news articles, or scientific papers, it means the same as the older "milliard"—nine zeros total. Some European countries still use milliard in their native languages, but English-language international communication has largely standardized on "billion" for this value.