As mid-2025 approaches, currency depreciation remains a persistent challenge for several African economies. Despite strategic efforts by central banks and governments to stabilize their national currencies, many continue to struggle due to a combination of high inflation, reliance on imports, limited industrial output, and historical economic missteps.
According to the latest update from Business Insider Africa, using data sourced from the Forbes Currency Calculator as of June 23, 2025, the following are the ten African countries with the weakest currencies against the US dollar this month.
Many of the currencies on this list—including the Nigerian Naira and Egyptian Pound—have suffered sharp declines over the past year. However, there are emerging signs of recovery in some economies, supported by stronger monetary policies, improved export performance, and increased access to foreign funding.
Typically, a weakening currency contributes to rising inflation, especially in import-dependent countries where essentials like fuel, medicine, food, and machinery are brought in from abroad. That said, if ongoing trends of currency stabilization continue, they may provide room for inflation relief, enhanced consumer confidence, and potentially lower interest rates in the coming months. These developments could also help attract more foreign investment by signaling improving economic health.
Here are the 10 African countries with the weakest currencies in June 2025:
1. São Tomé and Príncipe – Leading the list, the São Toméan Dobra is the weakest currency on the continent, trading at 22,281.80 to one US dollar.
2. Sierra Leone – The Leone remains significantly undervalued, standing at 20,969.50 per US dollar, unchanged from the previous month.
3. Guinea – The Guinean Franc continues to depreciate, currently valued at 8,657.48 to the dollar.
4. Uganda – The Ugandan Shilling trades at 3,605.57 per dollar, placing it fourth on the list.
5. Burundi – With the Burundian Franc exchanging at 2,975.85 per dollar, the country continues to face currency challenges.
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – The Congolese Franc currently trades at 2,905.28 per dollar.
7. Tanzania – Despite some recent economic reforms, the Tanzanian Shilling remains weak at 2,653.06 per dollar.
8. Malawi – The Malawian Kwacha trades at 1,732.71 per US dollar, reflecting ongoing economic difficulties.
9. Nigeria – The Nigerian Naira, although showing slight improvement this month, still trades at 1,553.68 per dollar.
10. Rwanda – Closing the list, the Rwandan Franc stands at 1,448.29 to the dollar.
While currency weakness often signals economic instability, modest signs of improvement across some of these nations hint at the potential for future recovery—if policy reforms, investment inflows, and export gains continue.
