I just finished reading an analysis about the most expensive currencies in the world, and it was pretty interesting. It turns out the Kuwaiti Dinar is actually the most valuable globally—1 Kuwaiti Dinar can be exchanged for 3.26 US dollars, mainly propped up by oil exports. Also, Middle Eastern currencies like the Bahraini Dinar and Omani Rial are ranked highly as well; they’re basically all oil-rich countries.

What’s interesting is that although currencies from developed countries like the British Pound and Swiss Franc aren’t as valuable as those Middle Eastern currencies, their influence and credibility are on a completely different level. The Swiss Franc is also known as a “safe haven” currency—especially resistant to declines when it matters most. And even though the euro is only 1.13 US dollars, as the official currency of 20 EU countries, its standing in international reserves ranks just behind the US dollar.

So the country with the most expensive currency in the world isn’t necessarily the wealthiest, but it is definitely one with a solid economic foundation. When choosing a currency, you can’t just look at the exchange-rate number—you have to look at the country’s credit and economic strength behind it. Which currencies do you usually pay attention to?