Top 10 Weakest Currencies in the World in 2025
Mesan Ali
Many people are invested in learning about the strongest currencies in the world, and rightly so. It brings you all the proper knowledge for investment purposes. However, few people understand that learning about the weakest currencies has benefits. A weak currency is one with low or descending value against other currencies.
Knowing weaker currencies allows you to plan budget-friendly trips, expand your business, source cheaper goods, and look for investment growth opportunities.
What Makes a Currency Weak?
Many factors play a pivotal role in dragging down a currency’s value. These factors mainly include high imports, low exports, political instability, and state bank intervention. A country’s debt can directly impact most of these factors, leading to investors losing interest in the currency.
Now, let’s dive in and learn all about the weakest currencies in the world and what makes them weak. Here’s a table for a quick overview of the 10 weakest currencies in the world in 2025 and their value against USD.
Top 10 Weakest Currencies in the World
The Lebanese Pound is the world's weakest currency and has been this way for a few years. As of 28th January, 2025, 1 USD gets you 89,383 LBP. Lebanon’s depressed economy and high inflation are two main factors contributing to this state of the currency. Additionally, the country’s banking crisis in 2019, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020 Beirut port explosion have been hard to recover from. These factors have led to high unemployment in the country, with many suffering from the inability to afford basic necessities.
For decades, the Iranian Rial has been one of the weakest currencies in the world, with 1 USD equivalent to 42,100 INR. Inflation, high unemployment, a lack of foreign investment, and political instability have all massively devalued the rial. The currency started picking up in 2015 when Iran signed a nuclear agreement 2015 with the United States and other powerful nations; however, the deal fell through in 2018, and the currency has been stagnant around the same value since then.
With an exchange rate of 25,080 VND against 1 USD, the Vietnamese Dong ranks as the third weakest currency in the world. Despite intense efforts from the Vietnamese government, the Dong hasn’t gained much value. The government has tried to impose strong monetary policies and adjust exchange rate policies, but that hasn’t worked. The currency’s value heavily relies on the country’s exports, which haven’t been at their best.
Sierra Leone relies heavily on commodities like diamonds and agriculture, making its currency vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market. The country consistently faces challenges like high inflation, poverty, and a lack of economic diversification, and therefore, it is currently valued at 22,844 SLE against 1 USD. The country has faced challenges like the Ebola virus outbreak and severe economic downturn in 2015 and 2018, only making things worse for the currency.
When a country’s economy is massively dependent on natural resources and agriculture, volatility, and unpredictability are bound to affect the economy and the currency. This is because the prices of these commodities fluctuate heavily in the international market. This is precisely what the Laotian Kip faces and consequently stands at 21,748 LAK against 1 USD.
The Indonesian Rupiah is a surprise on this list because Indonesia is a significantly developed country with a steady economy. However, diminishing foreign exchange reserves, political instability, and reliance on commodity exports impact the currency's value. For 1 USD, you get 16,170 IDR. The responsible bodies have tried to save the currency value but haven’t been able to make a significant impact.
The ongoing civil war in Syria has led to a significant decline in their currency's devaluation; hence, it is one of the weakest currencies in the world. There has been a significant decrease in foreign remittances and a lack of investment and trade, leading to many residents converting their savings to other currencies to escape inflation. Currently, 1 USD gets you 13,0001 SRP due to the reasons mentioned, which are paired with sanctions against Damascus from Western nations.
With the current value of Uzbekistani Som, you get 12,944 UZS against one USD, making it the eighth weakest currency in the world. While the country holds some of the largest oil and gas reserves, it has never recovered since the Soviet era. Regarding the direct contributing factors, the story differs for Uzbekistan; corruption, high inflation, and dependence on commodity exports all contribute to the devaluation of the currency.
Similar to other countries, political instability and corruption are the central causes of the Guinean Franc's devaluation. Military unrest and high inflation have also led to continuous devaluation for years. Currently, 1 USD buys you 8,630 GNF.
Paraguay has a lousy reputation for education quality, leading to massive unemployment and high inflation in the country. Poor education also leads to high rates of corruption, which further ruins the country’s chances of improving its currency value. With 1 US dollar valued at 7,897 PYG, PYG is the tenth weakest currency in the world.
Also Read: Top 10 Strongest Currencies in the World
Most of the weakest currencies in the world share very similar challenges like corruption, political instability, and economic diversification. However, with the right knowledge and insights, you can use these currencies to your advantage and leverage in terms of investment and business expansion.
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Conclusion
Understanding the weakest currencies in the world offers valuable insights into global economic challenges and opportunities. While these currencies face hurdles like inflation, political instability, and economic dependence on commodities, they also present unique advantages for those willing to explore them strategically. Whether you're planning budget-friendly travel, sourcing affordable goods, or identifying potential business investments, weak currencies can offer surprising benefits.
In an increasingly interconnected world, knowledge of both the strongest and weakest currencies empowers individuals and businesses to make informed decisions, leverage opportunities, and navigate global markets effectively.