Countries by IQ – Average IQ by Country 2023

Measures of human intellect are known as IQ. To get an IQ score, people take standardized exams and get a ranking of their intellect. The greater someone scores on the IQ test, the more intellectual they are deemed to be.

It is important to note that the concept of intelligence quotient (IQ) is a controversial and contested measure of intelligence, and it is not a perfect or definitive way to compare the intellectual abilities of individuals or populations.

That being said, there are some sources that attempt to rank countries by average IQ scores, although these rankings should be taken with caution and skepticism.

IQ scores are usually reported as a number, with the average score being 100 and scores above or below that indicating above or below average intelligence, respectively.

However, it is important to note that IQ scores are just one measure of intelligence and do not account for other important factors such as emotional intelligence, creativity, and social skills.

Additionally, there is controversy around the use and interpretation of IQ scores, as some critics argue that the tests are culturally biased and do not accurately measure intelligence across diverse populations.

There are two sides to every coin: IQ and education.




The level of one’s education and the resources at one’s disposal are often reflected in one’s IQ score. Compared to nations with higher IQ scores, areas of the globe with lower IQ scores are often poorer and less developed, notably in education.

For a long time, scientists have used IQ to identify the world’s brightest nations. The IQ map above shows the average IQ score for each nation. A violet indicates a lower IQ with a deeper tint. As a result, nations with the highest average IQ score look red-orange.

Is There a Country with the Highest IQ Per Capita?

Research by Ulster Institute academics Richard Lynn and David Becker found that the average IQ of the Japanese population is the highest in the world, with Taiwan and Singapore close behind. You can see the top 10 in the table below and the entire rankings.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest IQ:*

  1. Japan – 106.49
  2. Taiwan – 106.47
  3. Singapore – 105.89
  4. Hong Kong (China) – 105.37
  5. China – 104.10
  6. South Korea – 102.35
  7. Belarus – 101.60
  8. Finland – 101.20
  9. Liechtenstein – 101.07
  10. Netherlands & Germany (tie) – 100.74

While Lynn’s findings are detailed, they tend to spark much discussion. The methods Lynn uses to get estimates in the absence of concrete data are contested by other scholars.

It is said that unrepentant white supremacist Lynn misinterprets scientifically erroneous and racist evidence to promote his views on eugenics.

Average IQ scores vary widely over the world, as the data shows. In some studies, academics rank the world’s nations based on their average IQ.




To get these averages, we began with the country’s average IQ score (a usual starting point) and then fine-tuned those scores using other metrics (such as national math, reading, and science evaluations) while also taking into account the overall quality of data.

Measures of Intelligence Other than IQ

To be sure, IQ isn’t the only technique to gauge a person’s intellectual capacity. Finding the world’s brightest nations may be done in various methods that have nothing to do with a country’s average IQ.

Compare academic exam results, the chance of extending the frontier of knowledge and introduction of new data technologies (Intelligence Capital Index), or even the number of Nobel Prizes each nation has received, to name a few such comparisons.

You could even merge all three metrics into a single one.

The OECD PISA 2018 rankings of the world’s most intelligent countries based on students’ test scores in reading, math, and science:

  1. China – 555, 591, 590
  2. Singapore – 549, 569, 551
  3. Macau (China) – 525, 558, 544
  4. Hong Kong (China) – 524, 551, 517
  5. Estonia – 523, 523, 530
  6. Canada – 520, 512, 518
  7. Finland – 520, 507, 522
  8. Ireland – 518, 500, 496
  9. Korea – 514, 526, 519
  10. Poland – 512, 516, 511

Also See: Average Height by Country 2022

Intelligence Capital Index 2017: Top 10 Countries:

  1. United States – 74.88 (A+)
  2. United Kingdom – 64.19 (A)
  3. Germany – 64.18 (A)
  4. Australia – 63.96 (A)
  5. Singapore – 63.60 (A)
  6. Sweden – 61.58 (A)
  7. Switzerland – 61.57 (A)
  8. Canada – 61.15 (A)
  9. Finland – 60.45 (A)
  10. Denmark – 60.25 (A)

How countries are ranked on the basis of IQ?




Countries are typically ranked on the basis of IQ by taking the average IQ scores of a representative sample of the population. IQ tests are designed to be standardized, meaning that they are administered and scored in a consistent way across individuals and populations.

The tests typically include a series of questions or tasks that assess various cognitive abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning.

To calculate the average IQ of a country, researchers may administer IQ tests to a representative sample of the population and then calculate the mean score.

The sample should ideally be representative of the entire population in terms of factors such as age, gender, education level, and socioeconomic status.

However, it can be challenging to obtain a truly representative sample, especially in countries with large and diverse populations or in areas with limited access to education and testing resources.

It is important to note that IQ tests are not perfect measures of intelligence and can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as cultural background, language proficiency, and test-taking ability.

Additionally, there is debate among researchers and psychologists about the validity and reliability of IQ tests, and some argue that they are not an accurate or fair measure of intelligence.

Therefore, country rankings based on IQ should be viewed with caution and skepticism, and should not be used to make generalizations or stereotypes about particular groups or populations.

Listed below are the top 10 countries in terms of IQ:

  1. Japan (106.48)
  2. Taiwan (106.47)
  3. Singapore (105.89)
  4. Hong Kong (105.37)
  5. China (104.1)
  6. South Korea (102.35)
  7. Belarus (101.6)
  8. Finland (101.2)
  9. Liechtenstein (101.07)
  10. Germany (100.74)




RankCountryIQ2022 Population
1Japan106.4800125584.8380
2Taiwan106.470023888.5950
3Singapore105.89005943.5460
4Hong Kong105.37007604.2990
5China104.10001448471.4000
6South Korea102.350051329.8990
7Belarus101.60009432.8000
8Finland101.20005554.9600
9Liechtenstein101.070038.3870
10Germany100.740083883.5960
11Netherlands100.740017211.4470
12Estonia100.72001321.9100
13Luxembourg99.8700642.3710
14Macau99.8200667.4900
15Cambodia99.750017168.6390
16Canada99.520038388.4190
17Australia99.240026068.7920
18Hungary99.24009606.2590
19Switzerland99.24008773.6370
20United Kingdom99.120068497.9070
21Greenland98.890056.9730
22North Korea98.820025990.6790
23Slovenia98.60002078.0340
24New Zealand98.57004898.2030
25Austria98.38009066.7100
26Iceland98.2600345.3930
27Denmark97.83005834.9500
28Belgium97.490011668.2780
29United States97.4300334805.2690
30Norway97.13005511.3700
31Sweden9710218.9710
32France96.690065584.5180
33Poland96.350037739.7850
34Slovakia96.32005460.1930
35Russia96.2900145805.9470
36Lithuania95.89002661.7080
37Croatia95.75004059.2860
38Andorra95.200077.4630
39Ireland95.13005020.1990
40Czech Republic94.920010736.7840
41Latvia94.79001848.8370
42Italy94.230060262.7700
43Vanuatu93.9200321.8320
44New Caledonia93.9200290.9150
45Spain93.900046719.1420
46Bermuda93.480061.9390
47Cyprus93.39001223.3870
48Portugal92.770010140.5700
49Israel92.43008922.8920
50Barbados91.6000288.0230
51Malta91.2700444.0330
52Myanmar91.180055227.1430
53Mongolia91.03003378.0780
54Bulgaria90.99006844.5970
55Greece90.770010316.6370
56Suriname90.2900596.8310
57Ukraine90.070043192.1220
58Moldova89.98004013.1710
59Serbia89.60008653.0160
60Vietnam89.530098953.5410
61Iraq89.280042164.9650
62Uzbekistan89.010034382.0840
63Kazakhstan88.890019205.0430
64Thailand88.870070078.2030
65Armenia88.82002971.9660
66Bosnia and Herzegovina88.54003249.3170
67Costa Rica88.34005182.3540
68Bhutan87.9400787.9410
69Chile87.890019250.1950
70Mexico87.7300131562.7720
71Tajikistan87.71009957.4640
72Uruguay87.59003496.0160
73Malaysia87.580033181.0720
74Brunei87.5800445.4310
75Bahamas86.9900400.5160
76Romania86.880019031.3350
77Turkey86.800085561.9760
78Argentina86.630046010.2340
79Sri Lanka86.620021575.8420
80Mauritius86.56001274.7270
81Turkmenistan85.86006201.9430
82Montenegro85.7800627.9500
83Trinidad and Tobago85.63001406.5850
84Azerbaijan84.810010300.2050
85Georgia84.50003968.7380
86Turks and Caicos Islands84.290039.7410
87Paraguay84.04007305.8430
88Fiji83.9600909.4660
89Solomon Islands83.9600721.1590
90Samoa83.9600202.2390
91Kiribati83.9600123.4190
92Micronesia83.9600117.4890
93Tonga83.9600107.7490
94Marshall Islands83.960060.0570
95Cook Islands83.960017.5710
96Cuba83.900011305.6520
97Bahrain83.60001783.9830
98Brazil83.3800215353.5930
99Guyana83.2300794.0450
100Colombia83.130051512.7620
101Venezuela82.990029266.9910
102Cayman Islands82.240067.2770
103Afghanistan82.120040754.3880
104Haiti82.100011680.2830
105Dominican Republic82.050011056.3700
106United Arab Emirates82.050010081.7850
107Puerto Rico81.99002829.8120
108North Macedonia81.91002081.3040
109Albania81.75002866.3740
110Lebanon81.70006684.8490
111Philippines81.6400112508.9940
112Peru81.440033684.2080
113Northern Mariana Islands81.360058.2690
114Laos80.99007481.0230
115Libya80.92007040.7450
116Qatar80.78002979.9150
117Jordan80.700010300.8690
118Maldives80.5400540.9850
119Iran80.010086022.8370
120Pakistan80229488.9940
121Grenada79.3400113.4750
122Tunisia79.220012046.6560
123Kyrgyzstan79.09006728.2710
124Panama794446.9640
125Sudan78.870045992.0200
126Chad78.870017413.5800
127Seychelles78.760099.4260
128Oman78.70005323.9930
129Kuwait78.64004380.3260
130Indonesia78.4900279134.5050
131Papua New Guinea78.49009292.1690
132Timor-Leste78.49001369.4290
133Ecuador78.260018113.3610
134Palestine77.69005345.5410
135Senegal77.370017653.6710
136Comoros77.0700907.4190
137Madagascar76.790029178.0770
138British Virgin Islands76.690030.5960
139Bolivia76.530011992.6560
140Uganda76.420048432.8630
141Saudi Arabia76.360035844.9090
142Egypt76.3200106156.6920
143India76.24001406631.7760
144Algeria7645350.1480
145Kenya75.200056215.2210
146Angola75.100035027.3430
147Jamaica75.08002985.0940
148Tanzania74.950063298.5500
149Syria74.410019364.8090
150Bangladesh74.3300167885.6890
151Zimbabwe74.010015331.4280
152Burkina Faso73.800022102.8380
153Saint Lucia73.6800185.1130
154Mozambique72.500033089.4610
155Burundi72.090012624.8400
156Niger70.820026083.6600
157Antigua and Barbuda70.480099.5090
158Saint Kitts and Nevis70.480053.8710
159Rwanda69.950013600.4640
160Benin69.710012784.7260
161Malawi69.700020180.8390
162El Salvador69.63006550.3890
163Botswana69.45002441.1620
164South Africa68.870060756.1350
165Lesotho68.87002175.6990
166Eswatini68.87001184.8170
167Eritrea68.77003662.2440
168Zambia68.430019470.2340
169Ethiopia68.4200120812.6980
170Djibouti68.41001016.0970
171Nigeria67.7600216746.9340
172Cameroon67.760027911.5480
173Somalia67.670016841.7950
174Morocco67.030037772.7560
175Namibia66.19002633.8740
176Dominica66.030072.3440
177Sao Tome and Principe65.2200227.6790
178DR Congo64.920095240.7920
179Saint Vincent and the Grenadines63.4200111.5510
180Republic of the Congo62.97005797.8050
181Gabon62.97002331.5330
182Yemen62.860031154.8670
183Central African Republic62.55005016.6780
184Belize62.5500412.1900
185Honduras62.160010221.2470
186Togo59.83008680.8370
187Mali59.760021473.7640
188Mauritania59.76004901.9810
189South Sudan58.610011618.5110
190Ghana58.160032395.4500
191Ivory Coast58.160027742.2980
192Guinea53.480013865.6910
193Nicaragua52.69006779.1000
194Gambia52.68002558.4820
195Cape Verde52.5000567.6780
196Guatemala47.720018584.0390
197Sierra Leone45.07008306.4360
198Liberia45.07005305.1170
199Nepal42.990030225.5820

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