The Digest:
A new financial ranking reveals the continents most challenged currencies, placing Nigeria's Naira firmly among them. According to a September 2025 report, the persistent weakness of these currencies reflects deeper economic struggles for nations
Here are the 10 weakest currencies in Africa, based on their exchange rate against the US Dollar:
- São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra (22,282 STD/$1)
- Sierra Leonean Leone (20,970 SLL/$1)
- Guinean Franc (8,680 GNF/$1)
- Ugandan Shilling (3,503 UGX/$1)
- Burundian Franc (2,968 BIF/$1)
- Congolese Franc (2,811 CDF/$1)
- Tanzanian Shilling (2,465 TZS/$1)
- Malawian Kwacha (1,737 MWK/$1)
- Nigerian Naira (1,490 NGN/$1)
- Rwandan Franc (1,448 RWF/$1)
- The list measures how many units of a local currency are needed to buy one US dollar.
- Nigeria's position is attributed to volatile oil revenue, high inflation, and import dependency.
- While there are slight signs of stabilization, sustained economic reforms are deemed critical for improvement.
The Naira's position highlights the country's persistent foreign exchange challenges, making imports expensive and impacting the daily lives of Nigerians. Significant and rapid policy shifts are required to break the cycle of depreciation and restore faith in the currency.
