News
NYTThe Powerful Yet Fragile Force Propping Up Stocks and the Economy·NYTTariffs Are Making Instruments So Expensive, School Music Programs Are at Risk·Al Jazeera‘They are crying’: Refugees in Malaysia in fear amid Myanmar deportation·France 24France unveils cost-cutting budget amid protests·Bank of JapanJapanese Government Bonds Held by the Bank of Japan·BBCLorry training firm 'riding out' record diesel price·Al JazeeraIran urges Iraq to lift flight ban amid US sanctions·SCMPPhilippines’ jeepney drivers ‘stuck between a rock and a hard place’ despite fare increase·NYTThe Powerful Yet Fragile Force Propping Up Stocks and the Economy·NYTTariffs Are Making Instruments So Expensive, School Music Programs Are at Risk·Al Jazeera‘They are crying’: Refugees in Malaysia in fear amid Myanmar deportation·France 24France unveils cost-cutting budget amid protests·Bank of JapanJapanese Government Bonds Held by the Bank of Japan·BBCLorry training firm 'riding out' record diesel price·Al JazeeraIran urges Iraq to lift flight ban amid US sanctions·SCMPPhilippines’ jeepney drivers ‘stuck between a rock and a hard place’ despite fare increase·
← Back to Intelligence Dashboard
XOF

West African CFA Franc

XOF · Used by 8 countries

35
Moderate
Risk
Historical Scores
323946Jul 2021Jul 2025Oct 2026
What does this mean for you?

The West African CFA Franc is in decent shape overall, scoring 35 out of 100. There are some areas to watch, but no immediate danger. Your money is holding its value reasonably well compared to most currencies. The XOF is shared by 8 countries, so conditions vary depending on where you are.

You only need about 1.8%/yr to stay ahead. A basic savings account is enough. Calculator ↓

Inflation
0.3%
Debt / GDP
117.6%
GDP Growth
6.4%
FX Volatility
8.9
Governance
Not available
Reserves
Not available
Analysis
What's working well
Prices are stable — your money holds its value well
Economy is growing healthily
What to watch out for
Restrictions on moving your money out of the country
Government owes a lot (118% of what the country produces) — may need to print more money

Countries using the West African CFA Franc

CountryScoreLevelInflationDebt/GDP
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire38Moderate0.1%171%
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau38Moderate0.9%Not available
🇲🇱 Mali38Moderate3.3%Not available
🇳🇪 Niger38Moderate-4.5%Not available
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso34Moderate-0.6%64%
🇸🇳 Senegal33Moderate1.5%Not available
🇧🇯 Benin32Moderate1.1%Not available
🇹🇬 Togo28Moderate0.4%Not available

Savings Impact Calculator

XOF
Holding cash in XOF0.3% inflation
XOF 986−XOF 14 (1% purchasing power lost)
Your XOF 1,000 buys 1% less in 5 years
What if you invested XOF 1,000 instead? (5yr, in XOF terms)
Hold USD Cash
XOF 859
−XOF 141
-3.0%/yr net in XOF
S&P 500
XOF 1611
+XOF 611
range: XOF 734–XOF 3176
10% USD return + 0.0% FX · ±16% vol
Gold
XOF 1469
+XOF 469
range: XOF 418–XOF 4007
8% USD return + 0.0% FX · ±24% vol
Bitcoin
XOF 3052
+XOF 2052
range: XOF 180–XOF 18.4k
25% USD return + 0.0% FX · ±54% vol

All values in XOF. USD-denominated assets (S&P 500, Gold, Bitcoin) include an estimated FX gain of ~0.0%/yr based on the inflation differential between West African CFA Franc zone (0.3%) and the US (~3%). This uses purchasing power parity as a long-run approximation — actual FX movements can differ significantly in the short term. S&P 500 based on 1957-2024, Gold on 2000-2024, Bitcoin on 2015-2024. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.

Holding other assets too? Calculate your full portfolio risk →
This score is based on our 12-factor risk model. Think inflation or debt should matter more? Build your own model with custom weights and see how XOF ranks differently.