Global Guide to the Weakest Currencies: Which Money is Worth the Least in 2024-2025

2026-02-27 22:11:34

Based on 2024 exchange rate data, a comprehensive ranking reveals which currencies have lost the most value against the US dollar. These monetary crises reveal deeper economic challenges facing nations worldwide. Understanding currency depreciation patterns helps us recognize the warning signs of financial instability and economic collapse in different regions.

The Currencies Worth the Least: Complete Exchange Rate Rankings

The most dramatically devalued currency is Venezuela’s Bolivar, where 1 USD equals approximately 4 million VES. Following closely are Iran’s Rial (514,000 IRR per dollar) and several Southeast Asian and African currencies that have experienced sharp devaluation. Here’s the complete breakdown of the 50 currencies worth the least globally:

Venezuela - Bolivar (VES) - 1 USD ≈ 4,000,815 VES
Iran - Rial (IRR) - 1 USD ≈ 514,000 IRR
Laos - Kip (LAK) - 1 USD ≈ 17,692 LAK
Sierra Leone - Leone (SLL) - 1 USD ≈ 17,665 SLL
Lebanon - Pound (LBP) - 1 USD ≈ 15,012 LBP
Indonesia - Rupiah (IDR) - 1 USD ≈ 14,985 IDR
Uzbekistan - Som (UZS) - 1 USD ≈ 11,420 UZS
Guinea - Franc (GNF) - 1 USD ≈ 8,650 GNF
Paraguay - Guarani (PYG) - 1 USD ≈ 7,241 PYG
Cambodia - Riel (KHR) - 1 USD ≈ 4,086 KHR
Colombia - Peso (COP) - 1 USD ≈ 3,915 COP
Uganda - Shilling (UGX) - 1 USD ≈ 3,806 UGX
Tanzania - Shilling (TZS) - 1 USD ≈ 2,498 TZS
Madagascar - Ariari (MGA) - 1 USD ≈ 4,400 MGA
Iraq - Dinar (IQD) - 1 USD ≈ 1,310 IQD
Vietnam - Dong (VND) - 1 USD ≈ 24,000 VND
Belarus - Ruble (BYN) - 1 USD ≈ 3.14 BYN
Pakistan - Rupee (PKR) - 1 USD ≈ 290 PKR
Myanmar - Kyat (MMK) - 1 USD ≈ 2,100 MMK
Zambia - Kwacha (ZMW) - 1 USD ≈ 20.5 ZMW
Nepal - Rupee (NPR) - 1 USD ≈ 132 NPR
Sudan - Pound (SDG) - 1 USD ≈ 600 SDG
Suriname - Dollar (SRD) - 1 USD ≈ 37 SRD
Togo - Franc (XOF) - 1 USD ≈ 620 XOF
Ethiopia - Birr (ETB) - 1 USD ≈ 55 ETB
North Korea - Won (KPW) - 1 USD ≈ 900 KPW
Turkmenistan - Manat (TMT) - 1 USD ≈ 3.5 TMT
Tajikistan - Somoni (TJS) - 1 USD ≈ 11 TJS
Syria - Pound (SYP) - 1 USD ≈ 15,000 SYP
Ghana - Cedi (GHS) - 1 USD ≈ 12 GHS
Kenya - Shilling (KES) - 1 USD ≈ 148 KES
Egypt - Pound (EGP) - 1 USD ≈ 31 EGP
Sri Lanka - Rupee (LKR) - 1 USD ≈ 320 LKR
Malawi - Kwacha (MWK) - 1 USD ≈ 1,250 MWK
Mozambique - Metical (MZN) - 1 USD ≈ 63 MZN
Yemen - Rial (YER) - 1 USD ≈ 250 YER
Afghanistan - Afghani (AFN) - 1 USD ≈ 80 AFN
Kyrgyzstan - Som (KGS) - 1 USD ≈ 89 KGS
Haiti - Gourde (HTG) - 1 USD ≈ 131 HTG
Nigeria - Naira (NGN) - 1 USD ≈ 775 NGN
Moldova - Leu (MDL) - 1 USD ≈ 18 MDL
Armenia - Dram (AMD) - 1 USD ≈ 410 AMD
Georgia - Lari (GEL) - 1 USD ≈ 2.85 GEL
Somalia - Shilling (SOS) - 1 USD ≈ 550 SOS
Fiji - Dollar (FJD) - 1 USD ≈ 2.26 FJD
Nicaragua - Cordoba (NIO) - 1 USD ≈ 36.5 NIO
Bangladesh - Taka (BDT) - 1 USD ≈ 110 BDT
Kazakhstan - Tenge (KZT) - 1 USD ≈ 470 KZT
Iceland - Krona (ISK) - 1 USD ≈ 136 ISK
Philippines - Peso (PHP) - 1 USD ≈ 57 PHP

Why These Currencies are Worth the Least: Economic Factors Behind Devaluation

The nations with the weakest currencies share common economic characteristics: runaway inflation, political instability, external debt crises, and commodity price volatility. Venezuela and Iran lead this unfortunate ranking due to hyperinflation and international sanctions that have destroyed purchasing power. African nations face currency weakness due to over-reliance on commodity exports and limited foreign exchange reserves, making their money worth the least when external prices collapse.

Regional Patterns: Where Currency Weakness Accumulates

Different regions show distinct patterns in currency devaluation. Latin American nations (Venezuela, Paraguay, Colombia) struggle with inflation and external debt. Southeast Asian currencies depreciate due to regional economic cycles and export competition. African currencies suffer from structural economic challenges and terms-of-trade shocks. Central Asian and South Asian nations face currency weakness linked to geopolitical pressures and agricultural dependence.

Impact and Looking Forward

When a currency is worth the least against the dollar, it signals deeper economic dysfunction—not merely exchange rate mechanics. Citizens in these nations experience reduced purchasing power, inflated import costs, and capital flight risks. The continuing pattern of currency depreciation in these economies suggests ongoing economic challenges unless structural reforms address inflation, governance, and fiscal discipline. These weakest currencies serve as economic warning indicators for investors and policymakers monitoring global financial stability.

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