Lowest Currency in the World 2025: Top 20 Weakest by Value

Ever wondered which currencies are trading at rock‑bottom levels in 2025? These fragile currencies reflect deep economic ailments, from runaway inflation and political instability to war and sanctions. 

For context, a weak currency is typically characterised by the low amount needed to equal a single U.S. dollar, or worsening purchasing power due to inflation and economic instability. It's not just zeros after the decimal; it's often a sign of systemic challenges.

Below is an authoritative ranking of the 20 weakest currencies globally, along with the latest exchange rates, economic backgrounds, and reasoning.

Lowest Currency in the World: Top 20 List

1. Lebanese Pound (LBP)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 89,676 LBP (range of 89,446–89,851)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000011

Why It's Weak: Persistent financial collapse fueled by hyperinflation, banking crises, market dollarisation, and lack of currency reform. The official rate is artificially capped, but black‑market demand pushes valuations far weaker. 

The average 2025 rate sits at ~89,600 LBP per USD, making the pound essentially worthless on a true market basis.

2. Zimbabwean Dollar / ZiG

• Exchange Rate: Official mid‑2025 rate: ~26.79 ZiG per USD. Black‑market trades reach 35–40 ZiG per USD.

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: ~0.000015

Why It's Weak: Launched in April 2024 to eventually displace the Zimbabwe dollar, the ZiG has lost over 90% of its launch value. 

Poor public confidence, inflation, currency controls, and reliance on USD for everyday transactions continue to undermine its adoption, despite being gold-backed. Official exchange is enforced, but parallel markets dominate trade.

3. Iranian Rial (IRR)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 42,149 IRR (range of 42,000–42,500)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000024

Why It's Weak: Severe U.S. sanctions, chronic inflation, mismanagement of currency peg, and political isolation have deeply eroded purchasing power. Additionally, the disparity between official and street markets heightened depreciation.

4. Vietnamese Dong (VND)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 26,189 VND (range of 26,045–26,200)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000038–0.000039

Why It's Weak: Managed depreciation to promote exports, persistent inflation, and low interest rates keep the dong value suppressed. The government maintains pegged/smoothing regimes to support trade competitiveness.

5. Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 22,714 SLL

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000044

Why It's Weak: Weak economic fundamentals, low export diversification, high dependency on foreign aid, and fragile governance contribute to persistent currency losses.

6. Laotian Kip (LAK)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 21,537 LAK

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000046

Why It's Weak: Its landlocked status, restricted foreign investment, dependence on natural resources, and inflationary pressures contribute to making the kip one of the weakest currencies worldwide.

7. Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 16,415 IDR (range of 16,300–16,540)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000061

Why It's Weak: Exposure to commodity cycle swings, structural inflation, and a large current account weakens the rupiah's strength. The central bank occasionally intervenes, but depreciation trends persist.

8. Uzbekistani Som (UZS)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 12,554 UZS (range of 12,500–12,925)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000079

Why It's Weak: The legacy of a restricted economy and extensive government regulation, sluggish reformation, and constrained foreign exchange inflows cause official conversion rates to be unrealistically low compared to black-market prices.

9. Guinean Franc (GNF)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 8,680 GNF

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000115

Why It's Weak: Although rich in minerals, ongoing political instability, ineffective governance, and high inflation diminish public confidence and devalue the franc.

10. Paraguayan Guarani (PYG)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 7,661 PYH (range of 7,757–7,980)

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000130

Why It's Weak: Small export base, dependency on agriculture and hydropower, and high inflation contribute to gradual currency depreciation. Limited financial markets and structural deficits hamper stability.

11. Malagasy Ariary (MGA)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 4,472 MGA

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000223

Why It's Weak: Chronic inflation, limited export diversity, and reliance on agricultural income contribute to persistent currency weakness, despite sizeable tourist remittances and mineral exports failing to strengthen the ariary.

12. Cambodian Riel (KHR)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 4,001 KHR

• Approx. USD Value per Unit:  0.000249

Why It's Weak: A heavy reliance on tourism and garment exports, inadequate institutional infrastructure, and capital restrictions have maintained the riel at a diminished value. USD is frequently used alongside KHR in daily transactions.

13. Burundian Franc (BIF)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 2,972 BIF

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000336

Why It's Weak: Prolonged conflict, severe poverty, and a constrained economic framework lead to continuous devaluation. Political instability exacerbates inflation and forex scarcity.

14. Congolese Franc (CDF)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 2,910 CDF

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000343

Why It's Weak: Despite mineral wealth, political instability and poor governance have undermined the franc. Inflation and dollar dominance in trade weaken its real value.

15. Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 2,569 TZS

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000389

Why It's Weak: Slow economic diversification, inflation pressure, and reliance on commodity exports keep the shilling at a low value. Structural deficits and forex shortages also play a role.

16. Myanmar Kyat (MMK)Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 2,099 MMK

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000476

Why It's Weak: Political turmoil following the 2021 coup led to economic collapse, sanctions, and isolation. Dual exchange systems and hyperinflation in black markets deepen the kyat's weakness.

17. Nigerian Naira (NGN)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 1,530 NGN

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000653

Why It's Weak: Oil dependence, persistent inflation, and foreign exchange shortages erode the value. Multiple currency windows and government intervention distort pricing.

18. Rwandan Franc (RWF)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 1,443 RWF

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000692

Why It's Weak: A minor economy with a restricted export foundation, significant import reliance, and persistent fiscal deficits inhibits franc strengthening. Stable but low capital inflows.

19. Iraqi Dinar (IQD)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 1,309 IQD

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000763

Why It's Weak: A strong dependence on oil, political turmoil, and gradual reforms hinder the dinar. Severe inflation and limited diversification reduce investor confidence.

20. Argentine Peso (ARS)

• Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 1,293

• Approx. USD Value per Unit: 0.000772

Why It's Weak: Decades of hyperinflation (exceeding 100% yearly), repeated devaluations, and currency controls have eroded peso value. 

Although Milei's administration removed numerous controls with the IMF reforms seeking to stabilise, the inflation rate persists at a high level (~26%), and the crawling peg continues to be adjusted downward.

ARS continues to rank among the weakest currencies, at times even appearing overvalued, considering black-market exchange rates and economic instability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, value doesn't equal stability in 2025. Many of the world's lowest currencies belong to resource-rich nations or tourist-dependent economies that lack robust institutions, suffer inflation, or endure conflict. 

Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or simply curious about global economic health, understanding currency weakness helps reveal where the world economy remains fragile—and where opportunities for reform and risk lie.

Disclaimer: This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by EBC or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.