Sierra Leonean Leone has ranked third among the world’s cheapest currencies as of May 2023, according to Forbes.

Forbes reported that the Sierra Leonean currency has been severely impacted by poverty and a turbulent history of financial scandals, corruption, and conflicts, including a devastating civil war in the region.

According to the site, the Ebola outbreak further exacerbated the country’s economic struggles and contributed to a reliance on financial aid. As a result, the value of Sierra Leonean Leone has remained low, making it one of the most affordable currencies in the world.

Despite efforts to stabilize the economy, Sierra Leone faces ongoing challenges in improving the financial well-being of its citizens.

Check out the top 10 cheapest currencies in the world as of May 2023?

  1. Iranian Rial (IRR) 1 INR = 516 IRR

The Iranian rial tops the list of the cheapest currencies in the world. The fall in the value of the currency can be explained by various factors. To begin with, the termination of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 was followed by foreign investors’ withdrawal from the country. The nuclear program and the Iran-Iraq war also played a huge part in causing financial distress along with other political unrest in Iran.

  1. Vietnamese Dong (VND) 1 INR = 284 VND

The country has long followed a centralized economy. Although the country embarked on a path of forming a market economy, it still has a long road to walk. The currency is highly devalued currently but the chances are high of the currency improving considering the improvement in the economy.

  1. Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL) 1 INR = 278 SLL

Sierra Leonean Leone is an African currency that is highly affected by poverty. Africa has had a history of financial scandals, corruption and conflicts including a heinous civil war in the western African region. All these led to a downfall of the country’s economy and the value of its currency. The Ebola infection added to Sierra Leonean’s woes, and is a constant factor that affects the country’s population that further consumes financial aid.

  1. Lao or Laotian Kip (LAK) 1 INR = 212 LAK

The Lao or Laotian Kip is not a devalued currency but a currency that has had a low rate since the time of its introduction in 1952. Over the years the value of the currency has improved. Also, a railway is planned that will connect Beijing to Laos, which might draw investors to this small country. Although it is the cheapest currency, it is a promising one towards improving its value.

  1. Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) 1 INR = 179 IDR

In the last seven years, the currency has not improved even the slightest. The factors that have brought devaluation of the currency include its decreasing foreign exchange reserves. Given Indonesia is heavily dependent on the export market, the fall of the cost of the commodities has further devalued its currency value.

  1. Uzbekistani Som (UZS) 1 INR = 139 UZS

The government of Uzbekistan has employed many means to improve the economy of the country. But none of them have proved to be successful. The most recent one is the reformatory measure, so the changes that these measures will bring are yet to be explored in terms of currency value.

The Covid-19 pandemic hurt the economy deeply too. While data suggests that Uzbekistan has resumed internal economic operations starting the third quarter of 2022, the decline in its industrial output has increased the unpredictability in the currency’s future.

  1. Guinean Franc (GNF) 1 INR = 105 GNF

Guinea as a country faces corruption and political instability that leads to a weakened currency. The country’s currency value is getting devalued by the passing years.

  1. Paraguayan Guarani (PYG) 1 INR = 87 PYG

Paraguay is undergoing a terrible economic downturn as a result of high inflation, a high unemployment rate, increase in poverty and corruption. These factors have left a negative impact on the value of the currency.

  1. Ugandan Shilling (USH) 1 INR = 45 UGX

Uganda faced several setbacks under Idi Amin’s governance. The country’s policies including immigration policies have impacted the country’s economy negatively. The impacts still

10. Iraqi Dinar (IQD) 1 INR = 17 IQD

Iraq’s currency, the Iraqi dinar, is issued by the country’s central bank and is subdivided into 1,000 fils. Since the year 1990, inflation made the fils devoid of much value. In the past decade, the country also faced political instability.