Currency benchmarks – the latest data and analysis
Currency
Currency Benchmarks 2026 report – cash in a digital world
Benchmarks highlight varied use of cash policies, outsourcing and distribution methods
In the two years since the last currency benchmark, the share of polymer banknotes has continued to increase, reaching 31.8% this year, up from 23.3% in 2024 and nearly double the level in 2023. This pattern is also reflected in changing use of security features on banknotes and may be a factor in increased recycling. Indeed, another trend is towards greater environmental awareness by cash departments. All of the sustainability actions listed in the benchmark have registered increases since 2024.
Charts
Securing cash access
A sizeable share of central banks that responded to the Currency Benchmarks 2024 have an access to cash policy (46.9%), designed to ensure most people who want to pay with cash can do so conveniently. In many cases this is backed by related initiatives – 43.8% of central banks set minimum levels of cash service at commercial banks, and 54.3% mandate retailers to accept cash.
Not all central banks are seeing a decline in cash, so some report that an access to cash policy is not needed at present. Others are in the process of developing a policy. For the full breakdown of the data, explore the benchmarking service’s interactive charts.
Model banks analysis – Currency 2024
Explore key differences between central banks across economy groups and different central bank sizes
Currency data
View the full breakdown of responses to the Currency Benchmarks.
Previous years
Currency 2026
Currency 2024
Currency 2023
Currency 2022
Currency 2021
Currency 2020
Currency Benchmarks 2026 – executive summary
Benchmarks shed light on cash policies, changing substrate choices and staffing issues
Currency Benchmarks 2026 report – cash in a digital world
Benchmarks highlight varied use of cash policies, outsourcing and distribution methods
Working group minutes: Cash infrastructure under pressure
Both high and low volumes of cash in circulation are causing problems for central banks
Banknote lifespans show non-linear pattern
Banknote lifespans are up, but the change has not been straightforward
Central banks keep security-sensitive cash tasks in house
Most outsource capital-intensive work, with printing the most common
EMDE central banks forecast bigger changes in banknote demand
Forecasts are both positive and negative, but the range is much wider than for AE central banks
Currency Benchmarks 2026 Charts
Take a deep dive into the Currency Benchmarks charts, which have just been released for 2026
Banknote environmental impact awareness grows
Share of currency departments with a climate strategy increases to 50%
Recent banknote series show increased use of clear windows
Data reveals changing patterns in application of security features
Central banks remove over 40,000 fake notes on average
Most counterfeited banknotes detected in series issued from 2015–2020
Share of polymer banknotes continues to rise
Shift into polymer comes at the expense of varnished cotton
Volume of damaged notes withdrawn from circulation increases
Frequency of official fitness tests tends to have bearing on removals