Coins Worth Less Than the Real: The Ranking of the 10 Most Devalued in the World

Imagine waking up tomorrow and discovering that the money in your wallet has lost half its value while you slept. For many people around the world, this isn’t a joke – it’s reality. There are currencies worth less than the real, so devalued that buyers need to carry stacks of notes for simple transactions. While here in Brazil we debate a dollar at R$ 5.44, there are nations where the population lives with monetary crises that turn any economy into financial chaos.

I received a message from a friend traveling in Lebanon sharing a photo that looked straight out of a movie: he was holding a bundle of banknotes that resembled Monopoly money. It was more than 50,000 Lebanese pounds – equivalent to just R$ 3.00. This image drew my attention to a reality we often ignore: while the real closed 2024 as the worst currency in the world among major currencies with a devaluation of 21.52%, there are countries experiencing infinitely worse situations. In 2025, a global scenario of persistent inflation, political crises, and economic instability has turned some currencies into living symbols of financial fragility.

But what really causes a currency to plummet to such levels? And how does this affect those living in these countries or planning to invest there? Let’s explore these questions.

Why Do Some Currencies Fail So Quickly?

After years of following the financial markets, it’s clear that a currency doesn’t weaken by chance. There’s always a combination of factors that destroy confidence. Understanding these causes is essential to grasp why some territories have currencies worth less than the real.

Uncontrolled hyperinflation is the primary culprit. In Brazil, when inflation hits 7% annually, the entire country is on alert. In 2025, we’re around 5%. Now imagine economies where prices double every month – that’s hyperinflation, a phenomenon that literally consumes people’s savings and erases wages.

Chronic political instability worsens everything. Coups, civil wars, governments changing constantly – when there’s no legal security, investors flee, and the local currency becomes just colorful paper with no real value. Financial markets are driven by trust, and trust disappears at the first political crisis.

International economic sanctions isolate entire countries. When the global community shuts its doors to a nation, it loses access to the international financial system. The result is predictable: the local currency becomes useless for international trade. This isolation has intensified with current geopolitical disputes.

Reduced international reserves act as a slow death sentence. If the Central Bank doesn’t have enough dollars to defend its currency, it plummets mercilessly. It’s like having zero balance in your checking account while creditors are knocking at the door.

Capital flight reveals the true severity of the crisis. When even citizens prefer to store dollars informally – under the mattress – instead of trusting the national currency, you know you’ve reached the limit. Although financially risky, this behavior reflects genuine desperation.

All these factors combined create an environment where devalued currencies become the rule, not the exception.

Lebanese Pound, Iranian Rial, and Others: The Champions of Devaluation

1. Lebanese Pound (LBP) – The Sharp Drop

Exchange rate: 1 million LBP ≈ R$ 61.00

The real champion of devaluation. Officially, the rate should be 1,507.5 pounds per dollar, but since the 2020 crisis, that rate exists only on paper. On the black market, where transactions actually happen, you need more than 90,000 pounds for a single dollar.

The situation has deteriorated so much that banks severely limit withdrawals, and many businesses only accept dollars. A journalist I met in Beirut described a surreal reality: Uber drivers demand payment in dollars because no one wants Lebanese pounds. It’s a currency worth less than the real in terms of purchasing power.

2. Iranian Rial (IRR) – Financial Isolation

Exchange rate: 1 real ≈ 7,751.94 rials

American sanctions turned the rial into a third-world currency. With just R$ 100, you become a “millionaire” in rials. The government tries to control the exchange rate through strict regulations, but the reality on the streets is completely different, with multiple parallel rates fluctuating daily.

What’s most fascinating is seeing young Iranians migrating en masse to cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and Ethereum have become the most reliable store of value, surpassing the national currency itself. Investing in cryptocurrencies has shifted from speculation to a survival strategy.

3. Vietnamese Dong (VND) – Growth with a Weak Currency

Exchange rate: About 25,000 VND per dollar

This case is intriguing. Vietnam has an expanding economy, but the dong remains historically weak due to deliberate monetary policy decisions. It’s almost comical to see tourists withdrawing 1 million dong at ATMs and receiving a stack that looks like something out of a heist movie.

For tourists, it’s advantageous – with US$50, you can live like a millionaire for days. But for Vietnamese locals, it means imports are very expensive, and international purchasing power is nearly zero. Currencies worth less than the real also negatively impact economic development.

4. Lao Kip (LAK) – Dependent Economy

Exchange rate: About 21,000 LAK per dollar

Laos faces a complex situation: small economy, dependence on imports, constant inflation. The kip is so weak that at the border with Thailand, many merchants refuse to accept laotian currency, preferring Thai baht.

5. Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) – Giant with a Weak Currency

Exchange rate: About 15,500 IDR per dollar

Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy, but the rupiah has never strengthened. Since the 1998 crisis, it has been permanently among the most devalued currencies in the world. The upside? Brazilian tourists find Bali incredibly cheap – R$ 200 a day makes any traveler feel like royalty there.

6. Uzbek Sum (UZS) – Incomplete Reforms

Exchange rate: About 12,800 UZS per dollar

Uzbekistan has implemented significant economic reforms in recent years, but the sum still carries decades of a closed economy. The country tries to attract foreign investment, but the currency remains weak and devalued.

7. Guinean Franc (GNF) – Wasted Resources

Exchange rate: About 8,600 GNF per dollar

A classic case of a resource-rich country with a weak currency. Guinea has abundant gold and bauxite, but chronic political instability and corruption prevent this wealth from translating into a strong currency. It’s an enormous economic waste.

8. Paraguayan Guarani (PYG) – Our Neighbor

Exchange rate: About 7.42 PYG per real

Our neighbor Paraguay maintains a relatively stable economy, but the guarani is traditionally weak. For Brazilians, this means Ciudad del Este remains a paradise for international shopping. Currencies worth less than the real create tourism opportunities for neighbors.

9. Malagasy Ariary (MGA) – One of the Poorest

Exchange rate: About 4,500 MGA per dollar

Madagascar is one of the poorest nations in the world, and the ariary reflects this brutal reality. Imports become astronomically expensive, and the population’s international purchasing power is practically nonexistent. Development is nearly impossible with such a weak currency.

10. Burundian Franc (BIF) – Closing the Ranking

Exchange rate: About 550.06 BIF per real

So weak that for larger purchases, people literally carry bags full of money. Burundi’s chronic political instability directly reflects in the collapse of its national currency. It’s the most extreme example of how a weak government creates a weak currency.

What Does This Mean for You as an Investor?

The ranking of the most devalued currencies isn’t just a financial curiosity – it’s a mirror reflecting how politics, trust, and economic stability are inseparable. For Brazilian investors, some clear lessons emerge:

Fragile economies pose huge risks. Cheap currencies may seem like buying opportunities, but the reality is that most of these countries are experiencing deep crises. The risk outweighs potential gains.

Tourism and trade opportunities exist. Destinations with devalued currencies offer genuine financial advantages for those arriving with dollars, euros, or even reais in some cases. Travel becomes more affordable, but investments remain risky.

Macroeconomics is a living lesson. Watching currencies collapse helps understand the real effects of inflation, corruption, and instability on people’s lives. This develops critical insight essential for serious investors.

Stability is gold. The importance of trust, good governance, and macroeconomic predictability becomes obvious when contrasted with these currencies. Democracies with strong institutions don’t produce currencies worth less than the real.

Investing is a continuous learning process about economics and society. Protecting your wealth means seeking assets that transcend borders, resist inflation, and maintain value through cycles. Knowledge about devalued currencies makes you a more cautious and informed investor.

Follow analyses like this regularly to understand not only which currencies are fragile but also which are strong, where hidden opportunities lie, and how to prepare to seize them. The financial future of any investor depends on this global market understanding.