🌍 The 50 countries with the cheapest currency in the world: the global economic collapse in figures 💰

Have you ever wondered where your dollar is worth more money? The harsh reality is: there are 50 nations where the local currency has collapsed so dramatically that you need thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of units of local currency to get a single greenback.

The economic abyss: currencies on the verge of collapse

The monetary depreciation we observe in these countries is no coincidence. It reflects inflation crises, political instability, lack of international reserves, and disastrous economic decisions that have led these nations to the financial brink.

Venezuela leads the list with a bolívar reaching 1 USD ≈ 4,000,815 VES, followed by Iran with its rial trading at 1 USD ≈ 514,000 IRR. These extreme cases show completely wrecked economies where hyperinflation has turned national currencies into practically worthless paper.

Southeast Asia and the Asian Pacific: widespread weakness

In the Asian region, we find a concerning cluster. Laos faces quotes of 1 USD ≈ 17,692 LAK, while Indonesia struggles with 1 USD ≈ 14,985 IDR. Cambodia marks 1 USD ≈ 4,086 KHR, Vietnam stands at 1 USD ≈ 24,000 VND, and Pakistan records 1 USD ≈ 290 PKR.

Despite being economies with potential, these nations face persistent inflationary pressures, unsustainable external debts, and limited access to US dollars that keep their currencies under constant pressure.

Africa: the most affected continent

The African continent bears the highest concentration of weak currencies. Sierra Leone reaches 1 USD ≈ 17,665 SLL, Guinea marks 1 USD ≈ 8,650 GNF, Uganda hits 1 USD ≈ 3,806 UGX, Tanzania closes at 1 USD ≈ 2,498 TZS, Madagascar at 1 USD ≈ 4,400 MGA, Zambia at 1 USD ≈ 20.5 ZMW, Sudan at 1 USD ≈ 600 SDG, Ghana at 1 USD ≈ 12 GHS, Kenya at 1 USD ≈ 148 KES, Malawi at 1 USD ≈ 1,250 MWK, Mozambique at 1 USD ≈ 63 MZN, Somalia at 1 USD ≈ 550 SOS, and Nigeria at 1 USD ≈ 775 NGN.

The reason is complex: dependence on commodities, institutional corruption, internal conflicts, and weak financial systems keep these economies trapped in cycles of depreciation.

Middle East: geopolitical tensions and sanctions

The region faces its own demons. Lebanon quotes at 1 USD ≈ 15,012 LBP, Iraq at 1 USD ≈ 1,310 IQD, Syria reaches 1 USD ≈ 15,000 SYP, Yemen at 1 USD ≈ 250 YER, and Afghanistan marks 1 USD ≈ 80 AFN.

These nations are caught between armed conflicts, international sanctions, and the collapse of their financial institutions, which has pulverized the value of their currencies.

Latin America: regional depreciation

Colombia maintains 1 USD ≈ 3,915 COP, Paraguay at 1 USD ≈ 7,241 PYG, Suriname at 1 USD ≈ 37 SRD, Nicaragua at 1 USD ≈ 36.5 NIO, Haiti at 1 USD ≈ 131 HTG, and the Philippines close at 1 USD ≈ 57 PHP.

The Latin American region experiences inflationary pressures from political volatility, dependence on primary exports, and high interest rates that generate sustained depreciations.

Central Asia and the Caucasus: difficult economic transition

Uzbekistan quotes at 1 USD ≈ 11,420 UZS, Belarus at 1 USD ≈ 3.14 BYN, Myanmar at 1 USD ≈ 2,100 MMK, Turkmenistan at 1 USD ≈ 3.5 TMT, Tajikistan at 1 USD ≈ 11 TJS, Kyrgyzstan at 1 USD ≈ 89 KGS, Moldova at 1 USD ≈ 18 MDL, Armenia at 1 USD ≈ 410 AMD, and Georgia at 1 USD ≈ 2.85 GEL.

These transitioning nations face incomplete economic reforms, limited access to global markets, and dependence on regional trade that limits the strength of their currencies.

Other notable cases

Egypt quotes at 1 USD ≈ 31 EGP, Sri Lanka at 1 USD ≈ 320 LKR, Nepal at 1 USD ≈ 132 NPR, Ethiopia at 1 USD ≈ 55 ETB, North Korea at 1 USD ≈ 900 KPW, Togo at 1 USD ≈ 620 XOF, Bangladesh at 1 USD ≈ 110 BDT, Kazakhstan at 1 USD ≈ 470 KZT, Iceland at 1 USD ≈ 136 ISK, and Fiji at 1 USD ≈ 2.26 FJD complete the global picture.

The common lesson: fragile systems

Beyond the figures, what connects these 50 countries is structural fragility. Each weak currency tells a story of poor institutions, unsustainable fiscal policies, and economies unable to generate enough added value to maintain exchange rate stability.

While some countries struggle to recover, others are trapped in seemingly endless cycles of depreciation. The cheapest currency in the world is not just a number: it reflects millions of people facing the brutal reality of inflation and loss of purchasing power. These data serve as a reminder of why diversification of assets and understanding global financial markets have never been more critical.