Main facts about the average IQ and IQ scale
- You have an average IQ if your score ranges between 85 and 115.
- The average IQ in America is 98. People with the highest average IQ live in Massachusetts (104.3), while citizens of Mississippi have the lowest average IQ (94.2).
- The country with the highest average IQ is Japan (106.48).
- 95% of the population falls into the average IQ segment between 70 and 130.
What is the average IQ globally?
The average IQ score for adults in the world is 100 (based on David Wechsler’s most common test). At the same time, the scientist established that the standard deviation from this score is 15.
This means you have an average IQ if your score is between 85 and 115 (within 15 points of 100 in either direction).
What about scores that are higher or lower than the standard deviation? What is a normal IQ? Is an IQ of 80 low? No, it is in a second range of deviation.
- Everything from 70 to 85 is also considered an average but low average.
- And everything from 115 to 130 is a high average.
What is a high IQ and a low IQ, then? And what do they mean?
- A score over 130 is in the top 2% of the population. It’s considered high and means you may be gifted or even a genius.
- A score under 70 is considered low.
What is the average IQ in the USA?
The US average IQ is 98, which makes the United States the 31st country on the list of average IQs globally.
Which are the states with the highest average IQ in the US? These are:
- Massachusetts (104.3)
- New Hampshire (104.2)
- North Dakota (103.8)
And what are the states with the lowest average IQ in America? These include:
- Mississippi (94.2)
- Louisiana (95.3)
- California (95.5)
Moreover, according to the Flynn Effect, the American average IQ keeps rising at about 3 points per decade. This happens because of improved nutrition during pregnancy, changes in education systems, better family support, etc.
Quick stats on the highest average IQ by country
Do average IQ scores differ across countries? As you’ve already understood, yes.
According to research by the Ulster Institute, there are three countries with the highest average IQ:
- Japan (106.48)
- Taiwan (106.67)
- Singapore (105.89)
The average Chinese IQ is 104.1, placing it in the fourth place of countries with high IQs.
What countries have the lowest IQ in the world?
If education and nutrition improvements positively influence the average US IQ, in some cases, regions lacking these resources can rank lower on the scale.
Reports state that the countries with the so-called “lowest IQ”.
- Nepal (42.99)
- Liberia & Sierra Leone (45.07)
- Guatemala (47.72)
Average human IQ: Insights by age, gender, and race
- The average IQ is 100 for ages 20-24 and 99 for ages 25-44. It drops to 97 for ages 45-54, 94 for ages 55-64, 90 for 65-69, 86 for ages 70-74 and 79 for ages 75+.
- There’s no statistically important difference between average IQ in men and women.
- The average IQ for East Asians is about 106. For Whites, it’s about 100. For Native American people, it’s about 85. And in sub-Saharan African people, it’s 70.
Average IQ in the world. How accurate is it?
People in most countries have an average IQ of 70 to 107. But the scores only show that one approach to testing intelligence isn’t suitable for everyone.
Social, economic, and political factors affect people’s performance when measuring average IQ in different countries of the world.
Moreover, if we look at other types of intelligence tests by country, we can see that the same countries rarely made it to different top 10 lists.
Who has the highest IQ ever?
As of 2024, YoungHoon Kim from South Korea has the highest recorded IQ, with an impressive score of 276.
What is the highest IQ in the US? American writer Christopher Michael Langan has an IQ of between 195 and 210, which makes him the smartest person in the country.
How do IQ tests work in adults?
Note that IQ tests measure cognitive abilities only (yes, it isn’t about overall intelligence).
At the same time, IQ test scores are pretty complicated and depend on many factors, from test-taking skills to how to interpret the results.
What should I know about the IQ scale?
There’s a good chance you fall into the average IQ segment — 95% of the population scores between 70 and 130. But IQ scores are just numbers that supposedly show how good you are at solving specific puzzles.
You might score differently on different tests, but your scores probably still fall in the average IQ range, whether on the low or high spectrum.
More specifically, you likely have an average IQ in the USA or whichever country you live in, meaning you scored the same as most people where you live.
Is the IQ level meaning the same for everyone?
As we’ve already mentioned, the results of IQ tests depend on interpretation.
For example, researchers have found that women perform slightly better on some verbal tasks, and men perform better on some spatial ability tests.
Can people change their IQ scores?
Have you ever thought about whether your IQ is set in stone or if it’s something you can boost? Here’s the answer!
While it might seem like intelligence is a permanent gauge of your smarts, the reality is more flexible. Your brainpower can alter in a few ways, and here are the most common things that may influence your IQ level.
Education and lifestyle changes
Sadly, it doesn’t mean going to fancy places to discover more about the world around you. But if you can improve your cognitive skills through solving mathematical problems or learning poems by heart, you may score higher on some IQ tests.
Aging
Interestingly, scientists found that teenagers who passed IQ tests in early adolescence improved their scores by 20 points on average four years later!
Also, your IQ can improve as you acquire more skills and knowledge over time, and your brain actively develops until your mid-20s or 30s.
FAQ about IQ range
Why is the concept of average American IQ so popular?
Standardized tests make IQ relatively easy to measure, unlike emotional intelligence or creativity. As people love comparing numbers, especially when arguing about who’s the smartest, showing off good IQ scores is an easy way to do that.
How does IQ score meaning impact everyday life?
IQ tests help us understand a few things about ourselves:
- Learning style
- Problem-solving skills
- Cognitive strengths
- Areas for improvement
- Adaptability
- Multitasking ability
However, creative thinking — that you can’t estimate with an IQ score — might give you an advantage when it comes to fine art, music, and other creative pursuits.
