Studies have demonstrated that when people have money to spend, spending it on experiences rather than material goods tends to make them feel happier. Yet how much is there in existence?
How much money you need can be difficult to gauge due to its ever-evolving definition. But let’s start by considering some broad figures.
The US Dollar
The United States Dollar is one of the world’s most widely used currencies, used in trade around the globe and supported by liquid financial markets. The Federal Reserve ensures there is sufficient money circulating. Many experts predict it will remain an industry standard for years, mainly in oil trading.
However, it’s essential to remember that money consists of more than physical cash and bank deposits – it also encompasses investments, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies – making its precise valuation difficult. Money supply data is usually collected and published by each country’s central bank and divided into Ms (ranging from M0 to M3), where M3 represents institutional money market funds and significant time deposits.
The Euro
The euro is a form of money used by 19 European countries and managed and controlled by the European Central Bank (ECB, Frankfurt am Main) and Eurosystem. While the former sets monetary policy, the latter prints and mints euros and operates its payment systems.
The total global wealth stands at $1.2 quadrillion. This tally encompasses physical cash such as bills and coins and financial assets such as stocks, bonds, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies; property and natural resources also play a part.
Current global circulation totals approximately $36.8 trillion of what’s known as narrow money. This total encompasses all physical currency in circulation and deposits into savings and existing accounts.
The Japanese Yen
Yen is Japan’s official currency and one of the most widely-accepted global currencies. You’ll find banknotes and coins bearing this mark all around the globe – it is widely traded outside Asia too!
The amount of money in the world depends on how it is defined; physical cash and coins and deposits in savings and checking accounts could qualify as “M0.” This figure is estimated to be around $5 trillion.
M2 provides a more inclusive definition by including things such as institutional money market funds and large time deposits; however, even this measure is inexact because it does not account for valuable assets like real estate and the entertainment industry intellectual property. Some experts also believe cryptocurrencies should be included; unfortunately, no one knows their exact worth yet.
The British Pound
The British pound has long held an outsized role in global financial affairs. Once used to finance railroads in India and Australia, shipping ports worldwide, cotton plantations farms in the U.S., etc, its influence can still be felt today.
Since 1992, however, its value has fallen sharply due to economic and political events; for instance, Britain was forced to drop the Exchange Rate Mechanism after wealthy investors such as George Soros bet against it.
Finding exactly how much money exists can be difficult due to its fluctuating value. Each country’s monetary authority controls how much is printed – often known as money supply – and can include other assets like cryptocurrencies and demand deposits. A few countries have even started using Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), similar to cryptocurrency but backed by national central banks.
The Chinese Yuan
No definitive answer can be given on how much money there is in the world, as its total depends on your definition of “money.” A narrow report includes physical cash like coins and bills, which accounts for approximately $5 trillion. In contrast, a broad definition consists of any funds easily accessible such as checking and savings accounts, that quickly grow the number.
CoinMarketCap estimates the global financial system to have around $4 quadrillion. However, many economists disagree and feel including such items distorts its overall picture – thus, most countries and business sectors prefer using more conservative estimates for broad money instead.
The Indian Rupee
Money may not make the world go round, but it plays an integral part in economies. Although its exact sum can be hard to pin down, experts have analyzed and published various forms of data concerning it – usually including numbers such as physical coins or bills circulating.
M2 also accounts for all readily accessible funds, such as checking and savings deposits.
India’s efforts to take its currency global are intended to strengthen its economy. But several challenges exist, including capital controls and an imbalanced trade relationship with Russia; plus, its history of intervening in currency markets can cause volatility; these concerns may dampen enthusiasm for the rupee abroad, yet they are still worth exploring as they could reduce dependence on foreign currencies.
The Australian Dollar
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the official currency of Australia and several other countries and territories. Commonly referred to as an ‘Aussie” or “buck,” this popular forex market currency can also be traded using different methods.
As there are various forms of money in circulation around the globe, determining how much there is can be difficult. Physical currency includes notes and coins; this form is sometimes known as M0 money.
Commodity prices and terms of trade heavily impact the Australian Dollar. Increases in export prices tend to attract foreign investment and can lead to an appreciation of the Australian Dollar; this trend can often be observed through currency pairs like AUD/JPY, which have seen active trading due to their relatively volatile pricing mechanisms and make an ideal pick for traders looking for opportunities in price fluctuations.
The New Zealand Dollar
The New Zealand Dollar is one of the world’s most beloved currencies, far beyond what its relative population share or GDP projections would suggest. Furthermore, it ranks in the top ten currencies by daily foreign exchange market turnover.
Money may not literally drive economies worldwide, but it is critical to their well-being. Around $36.8 trillion is circulating worldwide as “narrow money,” such as notes and coins known as M1. When considering savings and current accounts as M2, that figure rises dramatically to $90.4 trillion.
Agricultural prices and tourism numbers drive New Zealand dollar fluctuations; RBNZ’s monetary policy plays a pivotal role. Banknotes printed on polymer feature iconic New Zealanders or native birds as obverse and reverse designs; scenic views may also feature prominently.
The South African Rand
The South African rand (ZAR) is the currency of South Africa and legal tender in the Southern African Common Monetary Area, including Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini. The name derives from the Witwatersrand escarpment, which contains some of the richest gold deposits worldwide; Johannesburg sits here.
Given all of the different forms of money and assets, it’s impossible to ascertain how much there is in circulation globally accurately. Estimates put it around $40 trillion worth of physical cash circulating (known as narrow money), while when combined with checking and savings accounts this figure could easily exceed $80 trillion.
This measure does not consider investments or assets that are more difficult to access, but it gives an idea of just how much money there is out there.
The Swiss Franc
The Swiss franc is a highly desirable asset because of its safety. Additionally, its banknotes are widely known to be forgery-proof. First created as part of France, Switzerland, and Belgium joining the Latin Monetary Union in 1865 before officially joining the Bretton Woods Agreements to link their currency directly to US dollars in 1945.
Determining how much money exists can be challenging due to all the different methods of measuring its value. M0 refers to physical coins and bills; M1 includes quick-access cash accounts; the highest tier, M2, comprises M0+M1, plus institutional money market funds and large-time deposits. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve doesn’t track M3, an abstract form that doesn’t provide helpful economic activity information.
