23.1% of global currency reflects nature, while only 15.4% highlights innovation

A study reveals that 23.1% of symbols on major world currencies depict animals and landscapes, compared to 15.4% representing science and progress.

Buena Park, California, February 2026 – While technological innovation drives the global economy, currency design continues to favor symbols connected to the natural world. A new analysis by Ria Money Transfer shows that nature is more prominently featured in the iconography of the world’s leading currencies than references to science, technology, or progress.

The study examines how countries use currency design to communicate identity, values, and cultural priorities through everyday images and symbols. Although often overlooked, the imagery printed on coins and banknotes functions as a subtle but powerful form of national storytelling, shaping how citizens and international audiences perceive a country’s heritage and long-term priorities.

23.1% of global currency design represents nature

According to the analysis, 23.1% of the symbols on the world’s most widely used coins and banknotes are related to nature and the environment, including native animals, plants, rivers, mountains, and iconic landscapes.

This prevalence makes nature one of the most recurring visual references in money, reinforcing the connection between national identity, territory, and natural heritage. In many cases, these images highlight biodiversity and geographic uniqueness, serving as visual reminders of the land that supports economic activity and cultural development.

Innovation accounts for only 15.4% of global currency design

In contrast, only 15.4% of the elements analyzed reference science, innovation, or progress—a category that includes scientists, modern infrastructure, universities, and technological projects.

The gap between these percentages highlights that even in highly industrialized economies, innovation occupies a secondary role in the visual language of money compared to more traditional, territorial elements. While scientific achievements and infrastructure symbolize advancement and economic strength, they appear less frequently than enduring natural motifs that convey stability and continuity.

What this trend reveals in major currencies

The difference between natural and technological symbols is no coincidence. According to the analysis, currency design serves as a cultural statement, reflecting which aspects of identity each society chooses to emphasize on an object that circulates millions of times daily. “Currency design is not neutral,” the study notes. “It reflects the values put into circulation alongside economic value.”

This pattern is evident when comparing currencies such as the U.S. dollar, euro, British pound, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, Indian rupee, and South African rand, among others. Across these economies, natural imagery frequently appears alongside historical figures and architectural landmarks, creating a layered narrative that blends heritage with national pride.

A comprehensive analysis of the symbolic language of money

The full study examines all identified symbolic categories (history, nature, science and progress, art and architecture, and unity) and details how they are represented in each currency analyzed, including visual examples of current designs.

This approach allows a direct comparison of how different economies balance tradition, territory, and innovation in their currency design. By quantifying these symbolic choices, the study offers a broader perspective on how nations visually define themselves in everyday financial transactions, revealing that environmental identity continues to outweigh technological representation in global currency iconography.