Average IQ by country (2025 update)

Below is the average IQ by country, updated as of January 1, 2025. This study is based on data from 1,352,763 worldwide who took the same IQ test on this website in 2024. Countries shown in gray on the map were excluded due to insufficient data.

The average IQ by country appears to be generally higher in East Asia. It is close to the global average in Europe, Western Asia, Oceania, North America, and North Africa. Meanwhile, it tends to be below average in Central and Southern Africa, as well as Latin America.

Last update: 10/01/2025, after a reinforcement of filters to include only genuine results. Puerto Rico results were added to the United States (its sovereign country). Territories with significant participants are displayed in an additional table.

Country rankings by average IQ

Reliability of this ranking: All participants completed the same IQ test on this website in 2024. In 83.18% of the countries, the IQ scores are similar to those from the previous year (< 2 points difference). For more details, refer to the FAQ further down the page.

Ranking Country IQ Participants Previous year Difference
1. ChinaChina 107.19 206994 106.79 (230997) +0.4
2. South KoreaSouth Korea 106.43 23727 107.42 (22916) -0.99
3. JapanJapan 106.4 145459 105.97 (172681) +0.43
4. Iran (Islamic Republic of)Iran (Islamic Republic of) 106.3 3850 106.41 (2744) -0.11
5. SingaporeSingapore 105.14 5159 106 (4390) -0.86
6. Russian FederationRussian Federation 103.16 19289 100.47 (90285) +2.69
7. MongoliaMongolia 102.86 2671 102.03 (3020) +0.83
8. ArmeniaArmenia 102.58 438 99.72 (849) +2.86
9. AustraliaAustralia 102.57 9626 101.6 (12289) +0.97
10. SpainSpain 102.3 11359 101.88 (19835) +0.42
11. New ZealandNew Zealand 102.08 2410 101.74 (3202) +0.34
12. Sri LankaSri Lanka 102.02 2840 101.82 (1868) +0.2
13. SloveniaSlovenia 101.96 2472 102.13 (3114) -0.17
14. CanadaCanada 101.65 7888 102.5 (9338) -0.85
15. ThailandThailand 101.52 22525 98.23 (24283) +3.29
16. BelarusBelarus 101.47 7154 100.6 (12456) +0.87
17. FranceFrance 101.42 8088 101.28 (13949) +0.14
18. SerbiaSerbia 100.86 5856 100.51 (4308) +0.35
19. ItalyItaly 100.84 18555 101.96 (33091) -1.12
20. SwitzerlandSwitzerland 100.75 5676 101.47 (5816) -0.72
21. GeorgiaGeorgia 100.59 4700 101.15 (3003) -0.56
22. MalaysiaMalaysia 100.48 19388 99.29 (18688) +1.19
23. FinlandFinland 100.3 9135 99.78 (12327) +0.52
24. Viet NamViet Nam 100.12 47671 101.25 (19725) -1.13
25. BelgiumBelgium 100.11 4418 101.37 (4909) -1.26
26. GreeceGreece 100.07 4772 97.29 (19692) +2.78
27. LuxembourgLuxembourg 100 345 100.24 (690) -0.24
28. IcelandIceland 99.99 497 100.47 (652) -0.48
29. SlovakiaSlovakia 99.76 8628 100.48 (6560) -0.72
30. United StatesUnited States 99.74 27841 98.85 (51346) +0.89
31. CzechiaCzechia 99.73 17135 100.06 (13522) -0.33
32. NetherlandsNetherlands 99.72 20694 100.56 (18264) -0.84
33. United KingdomUnited Kingdom 99.68 9787 99.7 (16296) -0.02
34. AustriaAustria 99.65 4017 102.63 (4623) -2.98
35. GermanyGermany 99.64 29447 102.23 (32253) -2.59
36. HungaryHungary 99.46 6662 99.3 (13240) +0.16
37. LebanonLebanon 99.39 770 98.43 (439) +0.96
38. EstoniaEstonia 99.39 2860 99.19 (3475) +0.2
39. PeruPeru 99.37 8282 97.12 (10122) +2.25
40. PolandPoland 99.35 27985 99.74 (27596) -0.39
41. PortugalPortugal 99.34 4352 99.15 (8365) +0.19
42. MaltaMalta 99.19 213 N/A (N/A)
43. CroatiaCroatia 99.17 6527 99.49 (5519) -0.32
44. IndiaIndia 99.08 17114 99.15 (68338) -0.07
45. IsraelIsrael 99.07 7652 101.94 (4756) -2.87
46. TurkeyTurkey 99.07 29431 95.47 (60914) +3.6
47. LatviaLatvia 98.84 4765 98.71 (4051) +0.13
48. AzerbaijanAzerbaijan 98.71 2261 96.66 (3793) +2.05
49. LithuaniaLithuania 98.67 7575 97.84 (8120) +0.83
50. MontenegroMontenegro 98.65 1237 99.15 (1013) -0.5
51. NorwayNorway 98.52 8820 98.67 (8059) -0.15
52. CyprusCyprus 98.51 1253 96.88 (1934) +1.63
53. SwedenSweden 98.49 8509 99.31 (8241) -0.82
54. IrelandIreland 98.32 1276 100.04 (1688) -1.72
55. Brunei DarussalamBrunei Darussalam 98.14 212 N/A (N/A)
56. DenmarkDenmark 97.94 7946 97.25 (9800) +0.69
57. BulgariaBulgaria 97.79 4956 101.6 (1733) -3.81
58. Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina 97.62 2468 99.29 (1090) -1.67
59. North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia 97.59 615 98.6 (470) -1.01
60. TunisiaTunisia 97.51 2190 97.27 (2930) +0.24
61. MyanmarMyanmar 97.37 1498 97.07 (1657) +0.3
62. Moldova (Republic of)Moldova (Republic of) 97.32 2619 96.88 (2055) +0.44
63. EgyptEgypt 97.21 3980 98.64 (4071) -1.43
64. AlbaniaAlbania 97.19 577 97.04 (503) +0.15
65. KazakhstanKazakhstan 97.17 5632 97.04 (6163) +0.13
66. NepalNepal 97.07 1025 98.47 (506) -1.4
67. AlgeriaAlgeria 97.01 3224 98.27 (3189) -1.26
68. MauritiusMauritius 96.89 385 N/A (N/A)
69. United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates 96.8 2705 97.3 (3335) -0.5
70. UzbekistanUzbekistan 96.79 8777 94.49 (6804) +2.3
71. MoroccoMorocco 96.78 3476 97.69 (4308) -0.91
72. JordanJordan 96.71 1166 98.21 (228) -1.5
73. PhilippinesPhilippines 96.66 8057 96.27 (4323) +0.39
74. BangladeshBangladesh 96.46 2935 95.7 (1467) +0.76
75. RomaniaRomania 96.31 18781 96.01 (20955) +0.3
76. CubaCuba 96.02 675 94.72 (2747) +1.3
77. MexicoMexico 95.51 15835 92.77 (18161) +2.74
78. UkraineUkraine 95.38 86925 94.08 (114418) +1.3
79. ChileChile 95.38 8141 94 (10942) +1.38
80. EthiopiaEthiopia 95.09 762 94.93 (300) +0.16
81. KuwaitKuwait 95.02 398 93.48 (356) +1.54
82. UruguayUruguay 95.01 1791 93.85 (3101) +1.16
83. EcuadorEcuador 95 4303 92.78 (4839) +2.22
84. KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan 94.85 1508 93.22 (1885) +1.63
85. MadagascarMadagascar 94.8 1016 95.01 (635) -0.21
86. Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago 94.79 315 N/A (N/A)
87. QatarQatar 94.77 529 97.49 (436) -2.72
88. ArgentinaArgentina 94.39 14181 92.85 (22248) +1.54
89. Costa RicaCosta Rica 94.15 1785 93.57 (1445) +0.58
90. South AfricaSouth Africa 94.11 8248 93.6 (4078) +0.51
91. OmanOman 94.08 506 94.17 (674) -0.09
92. BahrainBahrain 94.04 309 N/A (N/A)
93. IraqIraq 93.99 2087 94.62 (1234) -0.63
94. CambodiaCambodia 93.97 1601 95.37 (1100) -1.4
95. Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia 93.95 4388 96.47 (2832) -2.52
96. TajikistanTajikistan 93.55 410 92.05 (614) +1.5
97. PakistanPakistan 93.25 1841 95.53 (606) -2.28
98. IndonesiaIndonesia 93.18 150041 92.28 (146876) +0.9
99. ColombiaColombia 93.17 9165 90.79 (10108) +2.38
100. YemenYemen 93.03 314 N/A (N/A)
101. BrazilBrazil 92.92 43751 93.86 (53380) -0.94
102. Bolivia (Plurinational State of)Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 92.76 2356 92.21 (2515) +0.55
103. Lao People's Democratic RepublicLao People's Democratic Republic 92.05 885 92.29 (395) -0.24
104. NigeriaNigeria 91.35 1859 91.81 (1531) -0.46
105. GuatemalaGuatemala 91.29 1682 88.36 (1663) +2.93
106. KenyaKenya 91.22 932 N/A (N/A)
107. El SalvadorEl Salvador 91.07 801 89.41 (932) +1.66
108. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 91.02 3254 90.16 (4152) +0.86
109. ParaguayParaguay 90.76 1515 89.3 (1920) +1.46
110. HondurasHonduras 90.53 716 90.17 (943) +0.36
111. PanamaPanama 90.49 864 90.23 (1006) +0.26
112. GhanaGhana 90.25 339 N/A (N/A)
113. ZimbabweZimbabwe 90.21 310 N/A (N/A)
114. Dominican RepublicDominican Republic 90.06 857 88.95 (909) +1.11
115. CameroonCameroon 89.94 544 90.49 (608) -0.55
116. TogoTogo 89.94 231 N/A (N/A)
117. UgandaUganda 89.89 202 N/A (N/A)
118. Tanzania, United Republic ofTanzania, United Republic of 89.4 212 N/A (N/A)
119. NicaraguaNicaragua 88.7 861 87.54 (955) +1.16
120. Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire 88.42 319 87.25 (657) +1.17
121. SenegalSenegal 88.27 281 89.7 (301) -1.43
122. Congo (Democratic Republic of the)Congo (Democratic Republic of the) 88.01 340 86.98 (262) +1.03
123. MozambiqueMozambique 87.81 251 N/A (N/A)
124. BeninBenin 86.88 269 88.44 (225) -1.56
125. AngolaAngola 85.33 493 86.62 (376) -1.29
126. GabonGabon 85.08 275 85.75 (378) -0.67

Territories with significant participants

Below are the territories (having their own ISO-2 identification code) that had significant participants in 2024. The results from these territories were added to their corresponding sovereign countries. All sovereign countries and affiliated territories are categorized in accordance with the international standards set by the United Nations.

Territory Country IQ Participants Previous year Difference
TaiwanTaiwan ChinaChina 107.1 92019 106.16 (110534) +0.94
Hong KongHong Kong ChinaChina 107.06 21700 106.98 (30444) +0.08
MacaoMacao ChinaChina 106.73 1256 106.33 (1875) +0.4
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico United StatesUnited States 90.94 871 92.5 (872) -1.56

FAQ

What is the average IQ in the world?

The global average IQ is 100.

Why is the average IQ by country below 100 for most countries?

One of the main reasons for this is China, which alone represents about 18% of the world’s population. China balances out many countries with an average IQ below 100 due to its very high average IQ score (107.19) and its large population.

When considering the population of countries and their average IQs, the final result is an average IQ of 100 for the global population.

Why is there a difference in the average IQ by country?

Several factors can influence a country’s average IQ:

  1. Infectious Diseases: A 2010 study demonstrated that countries with high rates of infectious diseases generally have populations with lower average IQ scores. These diseases can negatively affect cognitive development. Africa is the continent most affected by infectious diseases.

  2. Dietary Habits: A 2024 study showed that children with good dietary habits have higher IQs than other children. Therefore, countries with good dietary habits (and less food poverty) tend to have higher average IQs.

  3. Intellectual Activities: A 2022 study found that regularly playing chess can increase children's IQs. Another 1962 study showed that bilingual children score higher on intelligence tests than children who speak only one language. Thus, regular intellectually stimulating activities within a country’s culture tend to raise its average IQ.

  4. Genetics: A 2013 study on over a thousand twins demonstrated that IQ is influenced between 50% and 80% by genetics.

To conclude, countries with good healthcare systems, that promote healthy dietary habits, and encourage their citizens to engage in intellectually stimulating activities, tend to have populations with higher average IQs.

Genetics provides a solid foundation upon which the environment can build further. Thus, good genetics combined with a good environment tend to increase the average IQ score. The global average IQ should therefore gradually increase, as confirmed by a 2014 study, which observed a 2.31 IQ score increase per decade. This phenomenon is known as the Flynn Effect.

However, the purpose of the IQ test is to classify the population around an average of 100. The algorithm of the international IQ test should therefore adapt to this increase to maintain the IQ average at 100 with a standard deviation of 15.

How often is the average IQ ranking by country updated?

The ranking is updated annually on January 1st, based on data from the previous year.

How reliable is this ranking?

All candidates have taken the international IQ test on this website. The international IQ test is based on the Raven’s Matrices technique, without cultural discrimination.

More than 83.18% of countries obtain a similar average IQ (maximum difference of 2 points) to their score from the previous year.

Are all test results included in the ranking?

When the annual IQ rankings are established, a thorough filter is applied to remove any candidates who may have taken the test multiple times, potential bots, and "suspicious" candidates. This filter is not yet applied when results appear in the "recent results" on the homepage, but only at the time of establishing the annual rankings.

Examples of criteria that can be used to filter results and ensure most results are authentic include: IP address, pseudonym, email address, and payment information.

Exactly the same selection criteria are applied to all countries without exception.

Why do some countries with smaller populations have more candidates than other countries with larger populations?

There are several reasons for this, for instance:

  • The general interest in IQ tests varies greatly between countries. Certain trends or other media or social events can lead to more candidates at specific times, in certain regions.
  • Many candidates find the international IQ test through search engines. And search engines may or may not highlight the website depending on the country, the language, and the search engine in question.

Thus, the number of candidates from each country can vary significantly according to internal trends, languages, search tools, and the year.

Some countries seem to have too few candidates. Why include them?

Some countries may appear to have too few candidates to be representative (those with fewer than 1000 candidates).
However, when we compare their average IQ scores to those from the previous year, 92% of these countries maintain a similar average IQ score (< 2 points difference). Their average results therefore do not seem to be significantly less reliable than those of countries with larger candidate samples.

Possible biases

Candidates are not fully representative of the entire population of their country, as they all share three common points:

  • Internet access
  • An interest in taking an IQ test
  • Taking the international IQ test

Therefore, this ranking more precisely reflects countries based on their internet users who are willing to take an online IQ test and who have taken the international IQ test. It is possible that, on average, IQ scores for these users might be slightly higher than for those who do not have internet access or do not necessarily wish to take an IQ test. Also, the international IQ test is based on Raven’s matrices and has refined its IQ scoring algorithm using its global database, but its IQ results remain indicative and do not replace psychological consultation.

However, this same profile is found across all countries. And according to the results, about 83.18% of countries maintain an estimated average IQ score similar to the previous year. Therefore, it does seem that there are differences in average IQ scores according to the methodology of the international IQ test from one country to another, and this ranking reflects those differences.