Countries by IQ - Average IQ by Country 2024

Snapshot

IQ scores, indicative of educational quality and resources in regions, are based on standard tests adjusted by national academic assessments and data quality considerations.
While IQ is a common measure of intelligence, other metrics include academic test scores, the Intelligence Capital Index, and the number of Nobel Prizes won.
Only Singapore and Finland appear consistently across all three ranking lists presented in the article, validating these countries’ rankings but also indicating the diversity of factors considered in measuring average IQ globally.

Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a measure of human intelligence. People who want to have their IQ measured take standardized tests and receive a score that ranks their intelligence level. The higher one's IQ score, the more intelligent that person is considered to be.

IQ and Education: Two Sides of the Same Coin

IQ scores typically reflect the quality of education and resources available to people in their local geographic regions. Areas of the world with lower IQ scores are typically poorer and less developed, particularly in the area of education, compared to countries with higher IQ scores. Many researchers also use IQ to determine the smartest countries in the world. The IQ map above shades each country depending on how high the average IQ score in it is.

Which Country Has the Highest Average IQ?

According to a 2019 study by researchers Richard Lynn and David Becker at the Ulster Institute, the highest average IQ scores in the world belong to the Japanese, with the citizens of Taiwan and Singapore close behind. The top 10 list appears below, and the full rankings appear in the table further down this page.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Average IQ - Ulster Institute 2019:*

Country	IQ (Lynn/Becker)
Japan	106.48
Taiwan	106.47
Singapore	105.89
Hong Kong	105.37
China	104.1
South Korea	102.35
Belarus	101.6
Finland	101.2
Liechtenstein	101.07
Germany	100.74

*It bears mentioning that Lynn's studies, while comprehensive, tend to spark considerable debate.

As the data demonstrates, average IQ scores vary widely across the globe. Some researchers divide the world's countries into ranked categories based on their average IQ scores. These averages were obtained by starting with the country's average score in standard IQ tests (a common starting point), then fine-tuning those scores with additional measurements, such as national math, reading, and science assessments, while also factoring in the overall quality of the data.

Other Methods of Measuring Intelligence

However, it's important to remember that IQ isn't the only way to measure intelligence. There are many different ways to seek out the smartest countries in the world, and many of them have nothing to do with average IQ. For instance, it is possible to evaluate a country’s academic test scores, likelihood of "expanding the frontier of knowledge" and introducing new data technologies, or even the number of Nobel Prizes won.

Top 10 Smartest Countries Based on Students' Test Scores in Reading, Math and Science - OECD PISA 2022:

Country	PISA 2022 Overall Score	PISA Math 2022	PISA Science 2022	PISA Reading 2022
Singapore	1679	575	561	543
China	1605	552	543	510
Japan	1599	536	547	516
Taiwan	1599	547	537	515
South Korea	1570	527	528	515
Hong Kong	1560	540	520	500
Estonia	1547	510	526	511
Canada	1519	497	515	507
Ireland	1512	492	504	516
Switzerland	1494	508	503	483

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Intelligence Capital Index - 2017:

Country	ICI 2017 Score	ICI 2017 Grade
United States	74.9	A+
United Kingdom	64.2	A
Germany	64.2	A
Australia	64	A
Singapore	63.6	A
Switzerland	61.6	A
Sweden	61.6	A
Canada	61.2	A
Finland	60.5	A
Denmark	60.3	A

Source

The average IQ in a country is calculated by starting with the country's average score in standard IQ tests, fine-tuning with national math, reading, and science assessments, and considering the overall data quality. The sources of data considered in this article vary by the number of variables considered, depth of analysis, and recency of data.

Substantial research on the subject of national IQs was conducted by psychologist Richard Lynn (1930-2023), working alongside the late Tatu Vanhanen (1929-2015) or, for 2019's The Intelligence of Nations, with David Becker.
Becker's estimates are categorized by source. T = value is based upon actual test results from said country. E = value is a best-guess estimate based upon measured values of nearby countries.
Becker's contributions were highly controversial. He promoted the theory that specific races and genders are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than others, and both his methology and his objectivity were often called into question. However, his work brought attention to the field and he is frequently (if often grudgingly) considered a pioneer in the field of national intelligence.
The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a triennial survey of 15-year-old students around the world that measures students' ability to recall learned knowledge and apply it in new settings both in and out of school. PISA results were most recently released in 2022.
The Intelligence Capital Index (ICI) was created by economist Kai L. Chan and most recently updated in 2017.

197 countries

Country	IQ (Lynn/Becker)	Source (True/Est.)	ICI 2017 Grade	ICI 2017 Score	PISA 2022 Overall Score	PISA Math 2022	PISA Science 2022	PISA Reading 2022
Japan	106.48	T	A-	58.9	1599	536	547	516
Taiwan	106.47	T	B	45.7	1599	547	537	515
Singapore	105.89	T	A	63.6	1679	575	561	543
Hong Kong	105.37	T	B+	51.2	1560	540	520	500
China	104.1	T	B	47.3	1605	552	543	510
South Korea	102.35	T	A-	56.4	1570	527	528	515
Belarus	101.6	T
Finland	101.2	T	A	60.5	1485	484	511	490
Liechtenstein	101.07	E
Germany	100.74	T	A	64.2	1447	475	492	480
Netherlands	100.74	T	A-	58.7	1440	493	488	459
Estonia	100.72	T	B	49.5	1547	510	526	511
Luxembourg	99.87	E	B+	53.8
Macau	99.82	E
Cambodia	99.75	T	D	16.1	1012	336	347	329
Canada	99.52	T	A	61.2	1519	497	515	507
Australia	99.24	T	A	64	1492	487	507	498
Hungary	99.24	T	B	50	1432	473	486	473
Switzerland	99.24	T	A	61.6	1494	508	503	483
United Kingdom	99.12	T	A	64.2	1483	489	500	494
Greenland	98.89	T
North Korea	98.82	E
Slovenia	98.6	T	B+	51.5	1454	485	500	469
New Zealand	98.57	T	A-	57.3	1484	479	504	501
Austria	98.38	T	A-	58.7	1458	487	491	480
Iceland	98.26	T	B+	52	1342	459	447	436
Denmark	97.83	T	A	60.3	1472	489	494	489
Belgium	97.49	T	A-	58.7	1459	489	491	479
United States	97.43	T	A+	74.9	1468	465	499	504
Norway	97.13	T	B+	55	1423	468	478	477
Sweden	97	T	A	61.6	1463	482	494	487
France	96.69	T	A-	56.7	1435	474	487	474
Poland	96.35	T	B	45.6	1477	489	499	489
Slovakia	96.32	T	B-	43.6	1373	464	462	447
Russia	96.29	T	B	46.6
Lithuania	95.89	T	B	46.3	1431	475	484	472
Croatia	95.75	T	C+	38.5	1421	463	483	475
Andorra	95.2	E
Ireland	95.13	T	B+	53.6	1512	492	504	516
Czech Republic	94.92	T	B+	51.8	1474	487	498	489
Latvia	94.79	T	B	45.8	1452	483	494	475
Italy	94.23	T	B	48	1430	471	477	482
Vanuatu	93.92	E
New Caledonia	93.92	E
Spain	93.9	T	B	49.8	1432	473	485	474
Bermuda	93.48	T
Cyprus	93.39	T	C+	38.5	1210	418	411	381
Portugal	92.77	T	B-	44.8	1433	472	484	477
Israel	92.43	T	B+	50.1	1397	458	465	474
Barbados	91.6	T
Malta	91.27	T	B-	40.8	1377	466	466	445
Myanmar	91.18	E
Mongolia	91.03	T	C-	27.4	1215	425	412	378
Bulgaria	90.99	T	B-	43.3	1242	417	421	404
Greece	90.77	T	B-	40.1	1309	430	441	438
Suriname	90.29	E
Ukraine	90.07	T	C+	38.3	1319	441	450	428
Moldova	89.98	E	C	31.5	1242	414	417	411
Serbia	89.6	T	C+	35.2	1327	440	447	440
Vietnam	89.53	T	C-	25.1	1403	469	472	462
Iraq	89.28	T
Uzbekistan	89.01	T			1055	364	355	336
Kazakhstan	88.89	T	C+	35.1	1234	425	423	386
Thailand	88.87	T	C-	29.2	1182	394	409	379
Armenia	88.82	E	C-	29.6
Bosnia and Herzegovina	88.54	T	C-	25.8
Costa Rica	88.34	T	C	32.4	1211	385	411	415
Bhutan	87.94	E
Chile	87.89	T	C+	37.8	1304	412	444	448
Mexico	87.73	T	C	30.7	1220	395	410	415
Tajikistan	87.71	T	D+	23.1
Uruguay	87.59	E	C+	37.9	1274	409	435	430
Malaysia	87.58	T	C+	35.5	1213	409	416	388
Brunei	87.58	E			1317	442	446	429
Bahamas	86.99	T
Romania	86.88	T	C+	39.4	1284	428	428	428
Turkey	86.8	T	C	33.4	1385	453	476	456
Argentina	86.63	T	B-	40.5	1185	378	406	401
Sri Lanka	86.62	T	D+	23.2
Mauritius	86.56	T	C	31.7
Turkmenistan	85.86	E
Montenegro	85.78	E	C	34.6	1214	406	403	405
Azerbaijan	84.81	E	C-	28.6	1142	397	380	365
Georgia	84.5	E	C	31.5	1148	390	384	374
Turks and Caicos Islands	84.29	E
Paraguay	84.04	E	D+	24.5	1079	338	368	373
Fiji	83.96	E
Solomon Islands	83.96	E
Samoa	83.96	E
Kiribati	83.96	E
Micronesia	83.96	E
Tonga	83.96	E
Marshall Islands	83.96	T
Cook Islands	83.96	E
Cuba	83.9	T
Bahrain	83.6	T	C-	29.6
Brazil	83.38	T	C+	36.2	1192	379	403	410
Guyana	83.23	E
Colombia	83.13	T	C-	27.9	1203	383	411	409
Venezuela	82.99	T	C-	26.8
Cayman Islands	82.24	E
Afghanistan	82.12	E
Haiti	82.1	T
Dominican Republic	82.05	T	D+	23.9	1050	339	360	351
United Arab Emirates	82.05	T	C+	35.9	1280	431	432	417
Puerto Rico	81.99	T
North Macedonia	81.91	E	C-	28.3	1128	389	380	359
Albania	81.75	E	D+	23.4	1102	368	376	358
Lebanon	81.7	T	D	19.8
Philippines	81.64	T	C-	26.6	1058	355	356	347
Peru	81.44	T	C-	28	1207	391	408	408
Northern Mariana Islands	81.36	E
Laos	80.99	T	D	18.8
Libya	80.92	T
Qatar	80.78	T	C	31.3	1265	414	432	419
Jordan	80.7	T	C-	26	1078	361	375	342
Maldives	80.54	E
Iran	80.01	T	C-	25.5
Pakistan	80	T	D	19.6
Grenada	79.34	E
Tunisia	79.22	E	D+	24.8
Kyrgyzstan	79.09	T	C-	27.2
Panama	79	E	C-	28.8	1137	357	388	392
Sudan	78.87	T
Chad	78.87	E	D-	10.3
Seychelles	78.76	T
Oman	78.7	T	C-	27.1
Kuwait	78.64	T	C-	29.8
Indonesia	78.49	T	D+	23.7	1108	366	383	359
Papua New Guinea	78.49	E
Ecuador	78.26	T	C-	25.3
Palestine	77.69	T			1084	366	369	349
Senegal	77.37	E	D-	13.2
Comoros	77.07	E
Madagascar	76.79	E	D-	9
British Virgin Islands	76.69	E
Bolivia	76.53	T	D+	22.3
Uganda	76.42	T	D-	12.4
Saudi Arabia	76.36	T	C	30.2	1162	389	390	383
Egypt	76.32	T	D+	21.6
India	76.24	T	C-	29.4
Algeria	76	E	D	19.1
Kenya	75.2	T	D	19.3
Angola	75.1	T
Jamaica	75.08	T	C-	26.7	1190	377	403	410
Tanzania	74.95	T	D-	14.4
Syria	74.41	T
Bangladesh	74.33	T	D	16.9
Zimbabwe	74.01	T	D-	11.7
Burkina Faso	73.8	T
Saint Lucia	73.68	E
Mozambique	72.5	E	D-	10.9
Burundi	72.09	E	D-	8.8
Niger	70.82	E
Antigua and Barbuda	70.48	E
Saint Kitts and Nevis	70.48	E
Rwanda	69.95	E	D-	9.9
Benin	69.71	E	D-	12.8
Malawi	69.7	T	D-	10.7
El Salvador	69.63	E	D+	21.7	1081	343	373	365
Botswana	69.45	T	D+	23.9
South Africa	68.87	T	C	33
Lesotho	68.87	E	D	16.1
Eswatini	68.87	E
Eritrea	68.77	T
Zambia	68.43	E	D	18.9
Ethiopia	68.42	T	D-	10.3
Djibouti	68.41	E
Nigeria	67.76	T	D-	13.9
Cameroon	67.76	E	D	17.8
Somalia	67.67	T
Morocco	67.03	T	D+	22.6	1069	365	365	339
Namibia	66.19	T	D	18.9
Dominica	66.03	T
Sao Tome and Principe	65.22	E
DR Congo	64.92	T
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	63.42	T
Republic of the Congo	62.97	T
Gabon	62.97	E
Yemen	62.86	T
Central African Republic	62.55	E
Belize	62.55	E
Honduras	62.16	E	D+	20.2
Togo	59.83	E
Mali	59.76	T	D-	9.9
Mauritania	59.76	E	D-	11.6
South Sudan	58.61	T
Ghana	58.16	T	D	17.4
Ivory Coast	58.16	E
Guinea	53.48	E	D-	6.8
Nicaragua	52.69	T	D+	22.5
Gambia	52.68	T
Cape Verde	52.5	E
Guatemala	47.72	T	D+	22.8	1091	344	373	374
Sierra Leone	45.07	T
Liberia	45.07	E
Nepal	42.99	T	D	18.3
Total						438.69	447.99	436.19

Which country has the highest average IQ?

Japan has the highest average IQ in the world, with an average IQ of 106.48.

What are the top 10 countries by IQ?

The top ten countries by IQ are Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Belarus, Finland, Liechtenstein and Germany.