Highest currency in Africa in 2024: Top 12 countries revealed

Highest currency in Africa in 2024: Top 12 countries revealed

A currency value is determined by the supply and demand of goods or services in a market economy. The government regulates supply and demand factors through monetary and fiscal policy. A currency's value is important because it determines a country's economic performance. Which is the highest currency in Africa in 2024?

Highest currency in Africa
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Source: UGC

Even though Nigeria has the continent's largest economy and the highest nominal GDP, dozens of African currencies are more valuable than the naira. Read on to discover the top 12 most valuable currency in Africa.

Highest currency in Africa in 2024

The currencies of these countries will be compared to the US Dollar, the world's strongest currency, and the Nigerian Naira, the local currency. These are the exchange rate as of November 8th 2023.

12. Egyptian Pound

most valuable currency in Africa
A selection of new Egyptian notes. Photo: Fadel Dawod
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: EGP
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 24.34 EGP

Egypt's national currency, the Egyptian Pound, has been used for over 200 years. Egypt is a populous African country in the continent's northeast. Egypt has one of the world's oldest economies, and its financial sector is one of the largest in Africa. One Egyptian Pound trades for about 18.07 Nigerian Nairas.

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11. Lesotho Loti

strongest African currency
Loti in the black wallet. Photo: Johan
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: LSL
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 17.85 LSL

The Loti is the national currency of Lesotho. It was first issued as a non-circulating currency in 1966. LSL coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 lisente, as well as 1, 2, and 5 Loti. One Lesotho Loti trades for about 24.64 Nigerian Nairas.

10. Namibian Dollar

lowest currency in Africa
Namibian 30 dollars. Photo: Maksym Kapliuk
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: NAD
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 17.85 NAD

The Namibian Dollar has been the currency of Namibia since 1993. The dollar replaced the South African Rand, which had been the country's currency while it was under South African rule from 1920 until 1990. One Namibian Dollar trades for about 24.64 Nigerian Nairas.

9. South African Rand

currency ranking in Africa
A man's hands hold out a sheaf of the new South African hundred Rand notes. Photo: RapidEye
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: ZAR
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 17.68 ZAR

South Africa has one of Africa's most powerful economies. Mining, tourism, and financial services are all important industries in the economy. Gold has been the country's primary export for many years. The rand is one of Africa's strongest currencies thanks to recent economic progress. One South African Rand trades for about 24.88 Nigerian Nairas.

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8. Zambian Kwacha

Which country has the highest currency in Africa
Zambian Kwacha in the black wallet on a wooden background. Photo: Johan
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: ZMW
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 16.30 ZMW

Zambia is a country in Southern Africa that is landlocked. The Zambian Kwacha is one of the world's best-performing currencies against the US dollar. Since 1967, the kwacha has undergone several structural changes to support economic activity while maintaining public trust in the national currency. One Zambian Kwacha trades for about 26.98 Nigerian Nairas.

7. Eritrean Nakfa

What is the weakest currency in Africa?
Man counting Nakfa notes in hand. Photo: Josselin Amalfi
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: ERN
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 15.00 ERN

Eritrea's currency is known as the Eritrean Nakfa. The Nakfa is one of Africa's most valuable currencies and Eritrea's official legal tender. It has remained stable over time due to the government's preference for a fixed exchange rate over floating the currency. One Eritrean Nakfa trades for about 29.31 Nigerian Nairas.

6. Seychellois Rupee

currency ranking in Africa
Seychellois money Rupee in the black wallet. Photo: Johan
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: SCR
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 14.42 SCR

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Seychelles' currency is the rupee, which is divided into 100 cents. It employs the abbreviations SR, SCR, and SRe. It was introduced in 1914. After independence in 1976, new 10, 25, 50, and 100 rupee notes were introduced. One Seychellois Rupee trades for about 30.51 Nigerian Nairas.

5. Ghanaian Cedi

most valuable currency in Africa
A man holds a bundle of Ghanaian Cedi banknotes. Photo: Cristina Aldehuela
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: GHS
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 14.23 GHS

Ghana is a country in West Africa. The country's economy is well-managed and constantly improving. The Cedi is the most powerful currency in Sub-Saharan Africa and the official currency in Ghana and Togo's northern region. One Ghanaian Cedi trades for about 30.92 Nigerian Nairas.

4. Botswana Pula

strongest African currency
Pula notes on the ground. Photo: Poco
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: BWP
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 13.24 BWP

Botswana's currency is the Pula which means "rain" or "blessing" because rain is scarce and valuable in the country. The Pula is constructed from 100 thebe, which means "shield." One Botswana Pula trades for about 33.22 Nigerian Nairas.

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3. Moroccan Dirham

lowest currency in Africa
Currency and banknotes of Morocco. Photo: Juana Mari Moya
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: MAD
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 10.91 MAD

The Moroccan Dirham is another strong African currency and Morocco's official monetary currency. How many units is the dirham divided into? The Dirham is divided into 100 units, known as santims. They are available in nine denominations of coins and four denominations of banknotes. One Moroccan Dirham trades for about 40.35 Nigerian Nairas.

2. Libyan Dinar

which country has the highest currency in Africa
Counting Libyan currency. Photo: Mohamed Arebi
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: LYD
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 5.00 LYD

The Libyan Dinar is one of Africa's most valuable currencies. Libya has abundant natural resources, including oil, gold, and silver. One Libyan Dinar trades for about 88.00 Nigerian Nairas.

1. Tunisia Dinar

most valuable currency in Africa
Tunisian currency, Tunisian dinars on wooden table background. Photo: EnginKorkmaz
Source: Getty Images
  • ISO code: TND
  • Dollar exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.22 TND

The Tunisian Dinar is the strongest African currency. It was introduced in Tunisia in 1960, replacing the Franc as the country's primary currency. Tunisia has a diverse economy that includes industry, agriculture, mining, petroleum products, and tourism, and it is one of Africa's most competitive economies. One Tunisia Dinar trades for about 136.70 Nigerian Nairas.

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Currency ranking in Africa

Below is a table of the top 12 highest currencies in Africa.

CurrencyCountryISO codeExchange rate
Tunisia DinarTunisiaTND1 USD = 3.22 TND
Libyan DinarLibyaLYD1 USD = 5.00 LYD
Moroccan DirhamMoroccoMAD1 USD = 10.91 MAD
Botswana PulaBotswanaBWP1 USD = 13.24 BWP
Ghanaian CediGhanaGHS1 USD = 14.23 GHS
Seychellois RupeeSeychellesSCR1 USD = 14.42 SCR
Eritrean NakfaEritreaERN1 USD = 15.00 ERN
Zambian KwachaZambiaZMW1 USD = 16.30 ZMW
South African RandSouth AfricaZAR1 USD = 17.68 ZAR
Namibian DollarNamibiaNAD1 USD = 17.85 NAD
Lesotho LotiLesothoLSL1 USD = 17.85 LSL
Egyptian PoundEgyptEGP1 USD = 24.34 EGP

Which currency is lower than the Naira?

The naira is the currency of Nigeria. It was introduced on 1 January 1973, replacing the Nigerian pound. Currencies lower than the naira include the Sudanese pound, the Comorian franc and the Somali shilling.

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Which is the lowest currency in Africa?

What is the weakest currency in Africa? Sierra Leone has one of the lowest and weakest currencies in the world. One USD trades for about 17,655.00 Sierra Leonean Leone.

Which country has the highest currency in Africa?

Tunisia is currently the country with the most valuable currency. One USD trades for about 3.22 Tunisian Dinars.

Which country has the strongest currency?

Kuwait has the world's strongest currency. The country is in Western Asia and is one of the world's wealthiest. One USD trades for about 0.31 Kuwaiti Dinars.

You now know the highest currency in Africa. These currencies are widely used in Africa and have a stable exchange rate that is simple to convert.

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Authors:
Adrianna Simwa avatar

Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com