A paper identification counter comprises a counter body, a hopper which is formed to the counter body and to which papers to be identified and counted are fed, a paper conveyance unit including a conveyance passage along which the papers such as currency notes from the hopper is conveyed one by one in a direction of a short width side of the papers, a paper identification unit disposed on a way of the conveyance passage for identifying and counting the papers; and a stacker in which the papers delivered from the conveyance passage are stacked. The conveyance passage includes a U-shaped curvilinear conveyance region on a way between the hopper and the stacker.