Countries with most cash use in world in 2025: Pakistan in top 10; know where India ranks

List of top 10 countries with most cash usage in 2025: At the top of the list is Myanmar, where cash is used for about 98 per cent of everyday transactions.

Countries that use most cash in 2025 list: Approximately 70 per cent of all transactions in India involve cash

Cash Index 2025, countries that use most cash in 2025 list: Cash is still used on a daily basis in many places of the world, despite the global trend towards digital payments. Due to the growth of mobile wallets, internet banking, and contactless cards, the use of actual money—notes and coins—has decreased by about 1 per cent to 2 per cent annually during the last ten years. However, cash remains the most convenient and reliable form of payment for millions of people. For people without access to official banking institutions, it is essential, private, and widely accepted.

In some countries, however, cash isn’t just common, it’s almost the only way people do business.

At the top of the list is Myanmar, where cash is used for about 98 per cent of everyday transactions. Due to widespread mistrust of financial institutions and restricted banking access, the nation is heavily dependent on real cash. Few individuals outside of major cities have bank accounts, and decades of economic unrest have forced people to hold and trade value nearly exclusively with cash.

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Just behind is Ethiopia, where about 95 per cent of payments still happen in cash. Much of this is due to low financial inclusion, many Ethiopians, especially in remote regions, don’t use banks or digital payment apps. As a result, everyday commerce, from buying vegetables to paying wages, remains solidly cash-driven.

Approximately 90 per cent of transactions in Cambodia still require cash. Although the initial wave of mobile wallets and QR code payments is emerging in cities like Phnom Penh, banknotes are still used nearly exclusively in rural regions. The transition to digital is being slowed by the persistent disparity in financial infrastructure between urban and rural areas.

A similar story unfolds in Nepal, where cash accounts for about 90 per cent of transactions. With much of the population living in hilly or remote areas, access to banks and stable internet connectivity is still limited. For many, cash isn’t just convenient, it’s the only practical option.

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With around 90 per cent of everyday transactions being performed in cash, Pakistan is likewise at the top of the list. Here, the sizable informal economy is crucial. Cash is preferred by many daily wage workers and small business owners, in part to avoid complex banking procedures and occasionally to avoid paying taxes.

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How much Cash do Indians use in 2025?

Approximately 70 per cent of all transactions in India involve cash, despite the country not ranking among the top 10. However, India is notable for spearheading the revolution in digital payments. With just a smartphone, millions of individuals may now send and receive money without using cash thanks to the government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI). UPI has made digital transactions quick, simple, and accessible for both online and street merchants.

Top 10 countries with most cash use in world:

Rank	Country	Share of daily transactions in cash
1.	Myanmar	98%
2.	Ethiopia	95%
3.	Gambia	95%
4.	Albania	90%
5.	Cambodia	90%
6.	Laos	90%
7.	Lebanon	90%
8.	Nepal	90%
9.	Pakistan	90%
10.	Iraq	85%