Ever wondered what the world’s strongest currency is? The United Nations recognizes around 180 currencies as legal tender but which one holds the most value? Here is the top 10.
The strongest currency here is defined as the one that is the most expensive in comparison to the US dollar. The currency that gives you the smallest currency return for 1 US dollar.
10. United States dollar
The US dollar is the currency of the United States and several other countries. It is the world’s primary reserve currency and is held by most central banks and commercial banks globally. Because of its widespread adoption, the US dollar also accounts for around 88.3% of daily trades in the foreign exchange market. Remarkably only comes 10th when ranked as a contender for the world’s strongest currency.
9. Swiss franc
The Swiss franc or CHF is the national currency of both Switzerland and Liechtenstein.1 US dollar will buy your around 0.98 Swiss Franc, so the Swiss franc comes in as the first currency to be higher value than the US dollar. However, is no surprise given that Switzerland is one of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world. The Swiss franc is also the 7th most traded currency in the world and gaining its popularity as a safe bet when trading or storing currency due to its strict monetary policies and low debt levels.
8. Euro
One of the newest currencies, the Euro or EUR is the official currency of 19 countries, which makes it the most widely used ‘official currency’ in the world. Countries where it is used as an official currency include Germany, France and Spain, and it is often known to be the world’s second reserve currency. It is also known to be the second most traded currency on the foreign exchange market only preceded by the US dollar. In exchange for 1 US dollar, you will receive around 0.90 Euro or 90 cents. This makes it the strongest currency in the list so far, and the 8th strongest in the world.
7. Cayman Islands dollar
The 7th most expensive currency in the world is the Cayman Islands dollar or KYD which is the national currency for the Cayman Islands. An autonomous British territory located in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands are a major financial tax haven for wealthy individuals and corporations. A United States dollar is exchangeable for around 0.83 Cayman Islands dollar making it the only and strongest Caribbean currency on the list.
6. Gibraltar pound
The Gibraltar pound or GIP is the national currency of Gibraltar and is exchangeable with the British pound sterling at face value. Therefore, in Gibraltar you are free to use both GIB and GBP. A single US dollar will buy you around 0.81 Gibraltar pounds, which is very similar in value to the pound sterling.
5. Pound sterling
The Great British pound, the pound sterling or the GBP is the 5th most valuable currency in the world. Although the GBP is not the strongest currency in the world, it does keep the title as the oldest currency still in circulation. The pound sterling is often thought to be the strongest currency in the world and is the strongest currency in the world that is widely used. It’s also the 4th most traded currency globally, accounting for around 12.8% of daily trades on the foreign exchange market. When exchanging a single US dollar, you will receive around 0.75 Great British pounds in return.
4. Jordan dinar
The national currency of Jordan is the Jordanian dinar or JOD, which earned the position as the 4th strongest currency in the world today. The currency became Jordan’s official currency in 1950 after it replaced the Palestinian pound. 1 US dollar is transferrable for around 0.71 Jordanian Dinar, earning the currency a rightful place in the top 5 most valuable currencies.
3. Omani rial
The Omani rial or OMR is the national currency of Oman. Unlike most conventional currencies, the Omani rial is split into 1000 smaller divisions known as baize. The Omani rial quickly rose in value after being introduced due to the success of Oman’s oil exports and being pegged against the US dollar. A single US dollar will exchange for around 0.38 Omani Rial, which is nearly double the currency strength of the Pound sterling!
2. Bahrain dinar
The second strongest currency in the world is the Bahrain dinar or BHD. Like most Arabic currencies on this list, it is divided into 1000 smaller currency units, in this case, called ‘fils’. The Bahraini dinar is only used in Bahrain and is pegged against the US dollar. Of similar value to the Omani rial, when trading 1 US dollar you will receive 0.38 Bahraini dinar.
1. Kuwaiti dinar
Known as the strongest currency in the world, the Kuwaiti dinar or KWD was introduced in 1960 and was initially equivalent to one-pound sterling. Kuwait is a small country that is nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia whose wealth has been driven largely by its large global exports of oil. You will receive just 0.30 Kuwait dinar after exchanging 1 US dollar, making the Kuwaiti dinar the world’s highest-valued currency unit per face value, or simply ‘the world’s strongest currency’.