The Least Valuable Currency, Compared to the U.S. Dollar

Once relatively stable, the Lebanese pound has experienced significant devaluation in recent years. A prolonged banking crisis, political unrest, and mounting government debt have led to dramatic losses in currency strength and confidence.

The Iranian rial is among the world's weakest currencies. Due to economic sanctions, political instability, and economic mismanagement, one U.S. dollar sometimes equals hundreds of thousands of rials. Currency devaluation and rising inflation have made purchasing power plummet.

Despite steady economic growth, the Vietnamese dong has remained low in value compared to major currencies. One U.S. dollar equals tens of thousands of dong, largely due to historical monetary policies and limited industrial diversification.

Sierra Leone faces ongoing economic instability, with high inflation and low foreign investment. The leone has depreciated significantly, and rising foreign debt continues to strain monetary stability.

The Lao kip remains a weak currency due to trade imbalances and low foreign exchange reserves. Despite efforts by the central bank, the currency has struggled to gain traction against the U.S. dollar.

Uzbekistan's national currency remains weak due to its transition from a planned economy to a market economy.

Foreign exchange reforms have helped somewhat, but low economic growth and limited foreign reserves keep the som among the world’s weakest currencies.

Guinea’s official currency suffers from low foreign investment, high inflation, and limited economic diversification. The Guinean franc is among the least traded currencies, and global price fluctuations in natural resources often affect its stability.

The Congolese franc is highly vulnerable to global markets. The currency's weakness is compounded by political instability and limited infrastructure, which deter foreign investors and contribute to a low currency value.

Years of civil conflict and a fragile economy have left the South Sudanese pound in a dire state. The foreign currency is highly volatile and suffers from limited foreign reserves and ongoing inflation.

Although re-denominated several times, the Venezuelan bolivar remains one of the worst exchange rate currencies historically. Hyperinflation, political instability, and economic sanctions have rendered it nearly unusable outside the country.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.