IQ compared by countries
The question of the intelligence of a certain nationality or population may be controversial. In fact, intelligence is influenced by national, political, and geographic factors. Often surprisingly but scientifically proven, a warmer climate badly affects the intelligence quotient.With an average IQ of 102 points, the USA ranks 29th in this ranking. With 113 points, the inhabitants of China reach the highest intelligence quotas worldwide. The last place, with only 71 points, is occupied by Niger.
In addition to the simple ranking of countries, the following table shows the influence of prosperity and climate.
Intelligence related to income and climate
The IQ presented was formed from the results of numerous international studies and compared the average income and government expenditures on education from 2006 to 2024.| Country/Region | IQ | Ø Income | Education expenditure per inhabitant | Ø Daily maximum temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 113 | 7,455 $ | 304 $ | 18.4 °C |
| Singapore | 113 | 51,861 $ | 1,666 $ | 31.5 °C |
| Hong Kong * | 110 | 42,016 $ | 1,484 $ | 26.3 °C |
| Macao * | 110 | 53,189 $ | 1,967 $ | 26.0 °C |
| Taiwan * | 110 | 24,253 $ | 26.9 °C | |
| Japan | 109 | 42,238 $ | 1,339 $ | 19.4 °C |
| South Korea | 109 | 28,422 $ | 1,300 $ | 18.5 °C |
| Canada | 106 | 46,905 $ | 2,310 $ | 7.5 °C |
| Finland | 106 | 49,052 $ | 3,164 $ | 8.1 °C |
| Estonia | 106 | 19,096 $ | 1,044 $ | 10.4 °C |
| New Zealand | 105 | 37,813 $ | 2,382 $ | 17.6 °C |
| Netherlands | 104 | 52,414 $ | 2,822 $ | 14.6 °C |
| Australia | 104 | 53,067 $ | 2,888 $ | 24.4 °C |
| United Kingdom | 104 | 44,086 $ | 2,358 $ | 13.0 °C |
| Switzerland | 104 | 82,137 $ | 4,123 $ | 15.5 °C |
| Belgium | 103 | 46,872 $ | 2,951 $ | 14.8 °C |
| Poland | 103 | 13,838 $ | 697 $ | 13.6 °C |
| Sweden | 103 | 56,594 $ | 3,927 $ | 10.1 °C |
| Germany | 103 | 46,616 $ | 2,220 $ | 14.1 °C |
| Slovenia | 103 | 24,516 $ | 1,306 $ | 15.6 °C |
| Ireland | 102 | 55,169 $ | 3,198 $ | 13.1 °C |
| Austria | 102 | 49,339 $ | 2,657 $ | 13.9 °C |
| Norway | 102 | 87,941 $ | 6,145 $ | 9.7 °C |
| France | 102 | 42,228 $ | 2,258 $ | 17.3 °C |
| Denmark | 102 | 62,246 $ | 4,549 $ | 12.6 °C |
| Czechia | 102 | 20,016 $ | 960 $ | 13.6 °C |
| Vietnam | 102 | 2,276 $ | 101 $ | 29.5 °C |
| United States | 102 | 58,447 $ | 3,068 $ | 19.0 °C |
| Iceland | 101 | 56,817 $ | 4,527 $ | 8.0 °C |
| Italy | 101 | 35,499 $ | 1,485 $ | 19.1 °C |
| Hungary | 101 | 14,442 $ | 698 $ | 17.1 °C |
| Spain | 100 | 29,906 $ | 1,340 $ | 21.4 °C |
| Luxembourg | 100 | 80,792 $ | 4,550 $ | 14.2 °C |
| Portugal | 100 | 22,159 $ | 1,126 $ | 21.7 °C |
| Russia | 99 | 10,998 $ | 473 $ | 9.0 °C |
| Israel | 97 | 36,912 $ | 2,271 $ | 26.7 °C |
| Ukraine | 97 | 3,216 $ | 196 $ | 15.4 °C |
| Greece | 96 | 22,604 $ | 890 $ | 22.7 °C |
| South Africa | 94 | 6,723 $ | 385 $ | 26.2 °C |
| Sri Lanka | 94 | 3,232 $ | 64 $ | 27.2 °C |
| Turkey | 94 | 10,644 $ | 424 $ | 21.5 °C |
| Bermuda * | 93 | 111,961 $ | 2,045 $ | 24.5 °C |
| Bulgaria | 93 | 8,166 $ | 344 $ | 18.5 °C |
| Iran | 93 | 5,281 $ | 179 $ | 27.0 °C |
| Malaysia | 93 | 9,544 $ | 459 $ | 32.0 °C |
| Serbia | 93 | 6,749 $ | 280 $ | 18.6 °C |
| Romania | 92 | 10,376 $ | 372 $ | 15.7 °C |
| Nigeria | 91 | 2,160 $ | 8 $ | 33.7 °C |
| Argentina | 90 | 10,544 $ | 576 $ | 21.5 °C |
| Cambodia | 90 | 1,316 $ | 31 $ | 33.2 °C |
| Cameroon | 90 | 1,461 $ | 43 $ | 31.1 °C |
| Thailand | 90 | 5,563 $ | 211 $ | 33.1 °C |
| Mexico | 89 | 9,778 $ | 486 $ | 30.5 °C |
| India | 88 | 1,614 $ | 66 $ | 31.6 °C |
| Ecuador | 87 | 5,307 $ | 247 $ | 27.9 °C |
| Egypt | 87 | 2,767 $ | 107 $ | 30.1 °C |
| Pakistan | 87 | 1,221 $ | 29 $ | 31.1 °C |
| Saudi Arabia | 87 | 23,240 $ | 1,619 $ | 33.6 °C |
| Albania | 86 | 4,787 $ | 162 $ | 22.9 °C |
| Brazil | 86 | 9,188 $ | 550 $ | 30.9 °C |
| Colombia | 86 | 6,186 $ | 284 $ | 30.6 °C |
| Bangladesh | 85 | 1,474 $ | 29 $ | 31.0 °C |
| Bolivia | 85 | 2,568 $ | 211 $ | 26.4 °C |
| Qatar | 85 | 67,150 $ | 2,487 $ | 33.7 °C |
| Indonesia | 84 | 3,277 $ | 77 $ | 31.6 °C |
| Philippines | 83 | 3,025 $ | 93 $ | 31.9 °C |
| Afghanistan | 82 | 484 $ | 17 $ | 25.6 °C |
| Seychelles | 79 | 13,829 $ | 628 $ | 30.3 °C |
| Sudan | 79 | 1,107 $ | 28 $ | 36.5 °C |
| Chad | 79 | 753 $ | 19 $ | 36.0 °C |
| Kosovo | 79 | 3,950 $ | 19.8 °C | |
| East Timor | 78 | 2,341 $ | 73 $ | 30.9 °C |
| Papua New Guinea | 78 | 2,140 $ | 33 $ | 30.8 °C |
| Comoros | 77 | 1,432 $ | 45 $ | 31.1 °C |
| Burkina Faso | 74 | 698 $ | 34 $ | 35.4 °C |
| Syria | 74 | 3,665 $ | 189 $ | 25.6 °C |
| Burundi | 72 | 222 $ | 13 $ | 28.9 °C |
| Niger | 71 | 532 $ | 19 $ | 36.5 °C |
What is the intelligence quotient?
The definition states that the intelligence quotient is a measure of intellectual ability. Often IQ is confused with a concrete performance or even education; however, it is the "ability" to perform. In other words, the ability for comprehension, combinations, and learning.A person isn't less intelligent because of a lower level of education. Instead, the one who can achieve the same education with less effort is classified as more intelligent. For example, some intelligence tests detail questions on the names of current politicians. This determines how well the patient can remember a name and its position only by the influence of the media presence.
The intelligence quotient was adapted to a mean value of 100 points. For a standard deviation of 15%, an IQ between 85 and 115 should be noted as normal. Depending on the psychological and physical condition of the patient, the results can also vary by up to 10 points.
Intelligence is not a learning ability but can be consciously increased. Through regular brain training, individual skills are specifically addressed and achieved through a performance increase. Thus, the general thinking-ability can be influenced by each individual within a certain framework. However, this possibility decreases considerably with increasing age. Additionally, part of the intelligence is inherited by the mother and father.
Criticism and misinterpretation:
The intelligence quotient is not intelligence. It is the mathematical result of a test developed by Western Europeans, according to Western European standards in a local environment. It is highly controversial that the same standards can also be applied to other cultures. Emotional intelligence, creativity, practical skills, ambition or diligence are not measured in intelligence tests and are hardly included in any interpolation model.
Many countries in Far East Asia are outliers in this result, because the strict, long and success-oriented school systems there promote precisely those characteristics that are considered optimal for Western societies in intelligence tests. In other countries, there are downward outliers because there are other priorities in the respective cultures.
The Flynn Effect
It can be observed that in western industrialized countries the IQ increases with the years. This effect, first discovered by James R. Flynn in 1984, was further researched in the following years and is observed in more studies today. It is assumed that there is an average annual increase of about 0.3 to 0.5 points. The increase is also faster for women than for men. In many countries, however, there is also a reverse Flynn effect, i.e. a decrease in the intelligence quotient.IQ in relation to income and educational expenditures
As shown in the table above, there seems to be a correlation between IQ and income level. Although high-income countries are among the top performers, much lower-income countries, such as China, Mongolia, and Eastern European, are also among the top performers.On the other hand, countries with high education expenditures almost always have an intelligent population. The reversing circuit is not always accurate because, among the first 30 places, there are also countries with medium-to-low educational expenditures. The leading countries in this ranking are exclusively the most developed East Asian countries. In these countries, it is usual for families to invest in their children’s education. The educational expenses are no less than elsewhere but are not caused or paid for by any government.
Is intelligence dependent on the climate?
Since 1991, relentless heat has been presumed to affect IQ over generations. It was initially assumed that living in lower temperatures required higher physical fitness and caused higher social demands. Richard Lynn, a professor at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, assumes that colder temperatures increase brain volume. But whether brain size is at all related to intelligence is controversial.In general, a hot climate is considered detrimental to the development of intelligence. Nowadays, the reason is primarily seen in the high physical energy demand and the resulting stress.
No dependence on skin color
None of the studies here conclude that a particular geographic ancestry influences the intelligence quotient. In some cases, differences within population groups were found (e.g., in Brazil: Blacks 71, Mulatto 81, Whites 95, Japanese 99), but all differences could be attributed to their origin, level of education, or other factors.In 2006, Donald Templera and Hiroko Arikawab found a connection between increasing skin pigmentation and a decreasing IQ. Even this was not attributable to skin color because pigmentation grade is climatically conditioned. The observations were also made within the same groups of other populationa, e.g., Caucasians.
Database
The intelligence quotients broken down by country are taken from the frequently discussed studies by Heiner Rindermann (University of Paderborn, 2007), Khaleefa and Lynn (2008), Ahmad, Khanum and Riaz (2008), Lynn, Abdalla and Al-Shahomee (Universities of Ulster and Omar Al-Mukhtar, 2008 + 2012), Lynn and Meisenberg (2010) and the PISA tests from 2009 to 2024. The 2024 results from the US company FastSpring were also used with a lower weighting. FastSpring is a software provider with no medical background, but operates one of the largest IQ tests on the internet. The more recent study by Richard Lynn and David Becker (PDF in English) at the Ulster Institute for Social Research from 2019 was also included here. In it, Lynn corrects several values from his earlier publications.The studies are not entirely uncontroversial, as they only take into account specific population groups in individual countries or only a few and therefore unrepresentative reference groups. The studies by Richard Lynn in particular are regarded as controversial, as they give conspicuously low values for individual, predominantly African countries. We have therefore not included over 40 countries from his studies.
The figures for average income, population, and education expenditures are based on World Bank data, averaged from 2006 bis 2024. This corresponds to the period during which the studies were carried out. Temperatures were averaged from the data of the German Weather Service of the same period.
* Dependent territories
The following countries are not sovereign states, but dependent territories or areas of other states:- Bermuda: self-governing territory of the UK
- Hong Kong: special administrative region of China
- Macao: special administrative region of China
- Taiwan: Semi-presidential republic