START
Traveling abroad soon? These countries still rely heavily on cash, meaning credit cards may not work for everyday purchases.
One of the bigger planning items for international travelers is one of currency. Does one need to exchange currency and get some paper money, or are card payments standard in that country? Are exchange houses and ATMs common, or should a traveler plan to order foreign currency before they depart?
Payment provider DeCard has compiled a list of the most cash-dependent countries in the world for travelers. They compiled the number of ATMs, bank branches, and credit card point of sale (POS) terminals per resident, plus the percentage of the population that owns payment cards.
Read on to learn more about which countries you’ll be most likely to need cash for your transactions.
1 OF 10
Algeria
Whether you’re taking to the Mediterranean beaches or seeing the world’s tallest minaret at the Great Mosque in Algiers, you’re more likely to need cash in Algeria than any other country on the survey. Financial institution outlets are thin on the ground here, with just 12 ATMs per 100,000 people, and 5.3 commercial bank branches, and just over 2% of the population have credit cards.
2 OF 10
Egypt
Egypt has no shortage of places to spend money—from narrow-alleyed souks to vendors pulling up alongside Nile River cruise boats, but for each of these, you generally need cash money. There are 30 ATMs per 100,000 people (mostly within banks and hotels) but banks can be hard to find, with just 6.2 commercial bank branches (although many international hotels also have full-service branches, especially in Cairo). Just under 3% of the population have credit cards.
3 OF 10
Vietnam
Don’t plan on using a card for that bánh mì or steaming bowl of pho from a street vendor. Vietnam is also short on ATMs (27 per 100k), but POS terminals are slightly more common, with 310 per 100k. Credit card ownership is still low, at around 5.6%. Major hotels, cruise lines, and urban shops are most likely to take cards, but overall their acceptance rate is low, particularly for small vendors.
4 OF 10
India
Electronic payments are quickly growing in India, but it’s still largely cash-dependent for many transactions, except hotels and upscale restaurants, so plan on using cash for small merchants and tuk-tuks. ATMs are still relatively uncommon (27 per 100k) and those are mostly in urban centers and tourist areas. Credit cards are still uncommon among the population, which mostly prefers to transact in rupees. When credit cards are accepted, mobile wallet payments like Apple Pay are generally not supported.
5 OF 10
Jordan
Jordan has the most POS terminals in the top ten, with 388 per 100k, and credit cards (in some cases even mobile wallet payments) are more accepted in cities, particularly in large hotels, tourist attractions, and supermarkets. Cash is still king, however, for taxis and small vendors like those found in souks. Less than 3% of the population have credit cards.
6 OF 10
Philippines
The Philippines has the highest number of credit card owners in the top ten—8% of the population—but card payments remain less common in the country, particularly outside cities. Contactless payments are rare, but growing in popularity, and POS terminals are slightly more prevalent, with 220 per 100k. As in many countries, cash is still the only method of payment for smaller merchants and those outside major cities. Local eateries and most local transport methods are also cash-only.
7 OF 10
Morocco
Morocco, like many other countries in the survey, is reliant on cash for transport, in souks, and for tips, but credit cards are more commonly accepted for large purchases (particularly in the shops selling argan oils, and other cosmetics). Luckily, commercial bank branches are more common (20.9 per 100k). Credit card ownership, however, is among the lowest among all countries, with just 1% of the population having one. Morocco also ranked the lowest for the number of POS terminals, with just 89 per 100k.
8 OF 10
Cambodia
Credit cards are virtually unused by the local population, with a fraction of a percent owning one. As with most countries, cards are accepted by tourism-focused businesses like hotels in Phnomh Penh and Siem Reap, but in more rural areas it’s all cash. Many vendors will accept payments in local Riel or US Dollars, and it’s not uncommon for those that do accept credit cards to tack on a surcharge for card payments, so it can be helpful to have cash handy even if cards are accepted. ATMs are more common in Cambodia than any other country in the top ten (46.5 per 100k) and many of them dispense US Dollars or Riel.
9 OF 10
Tunisia
Travelers to Tunisia’s glittering Mediterranean resorts will want to hit up the ATM at some point during their stay. There are 32.7 per 100k in population—somewhat better than the higher-ranking cash countries in the survey. The country also fared better than its peers on number of commercial bank branches, but has a relatively small number of credit card owners (2%) and POS terminals (150). Even when merchants do accept credit cards (indicated by a sign or a visible POS), many of them may still prefer cash, and discourage card payments. As in many other countries, cash is king in souks and with other local vendors; even many gas stations are cash-only.
10 OF 10
Albania
Albanian Lek is the best form of payment for taxis, local shops, markets, and rural vendors, but card payments are quickly becoming more common, particularly in hotels, supermarkets in larger cities such as Tirana, and tourist venues. Albania has a good number of ATMs (40.1 per 100k) than most other countries in the top ten, and a good number of POS terminals (283.3 per 100k), but many users have reported that vendors who have them can be hesitant to use them, or claim they’re broken.