Global IQ rankings often receive widespread attention because they attempt to compare average cognitive test scores across different countries. The 2026 data set shows some clear changes in some countries, with some improving compared to last year and others experiencing slight declines. South Korea, China and Japan still top the list with stable rankings. At the same time, places like Vietnam and Australia were starting to change and move in different directions.These numbers come from participant samples and standardized testing methods. Experts often point out that such results can also be influenced by cultural, educational and socioeconomic factors.Check out the global average IQ ranking in 2026, according to the “2026 International IQ Test and Global Statistics”.
list The country with the highest IQ in the world
Average IQ scores by country in 2026
South Korea
South Korea ranks first with an average IQ of 106.97. While the increase is small compared to last year’s figures, it’s still significant. The school structure in Korea is very strict and competitive. The participation rate was good, with more than 26,999 people taking part in the survey. The improvements are small but overall positive.
China
China ranks second with an IQ of 106.48. The number is down slightly from 107.19 last year. Despite the decline, China remains among the highest levels globally. The sample size was very large, with over 229,000 participants, making it one of the most statistically significant entries. The decrease is small, but relatively significant.
Japan
Japan’s IQ score is 106.30, ranking third in the world. There is no significant change compared to the previous period, with a difference of -0.10. This implies constancy rather than variability. The number of participants in the survey was nearly 56,000.
Iran
Iran ranks fourth with an IQ of 104.80. The change from the previous year is -1.50, which is larger compared to others in the top five. The number of participants exceeded 10,000, making it a medium-sized event. Although no single cause was clearly pointed to in the data, this decrease could be related to changes in sample selection or testing conditions. Despite the decline, Iran remains at a high global level.
Australia
Australia ranks fifth with an IQ of 104.45. It also exhibits one of the largest positive differences in the data set (+1.88). Australia’s positive differences are unique compared to other countries in the top ten. Its participant base is also much smaller, with fewer than 4,000 members. This increase moves Australia up the rankings from its previous ranking.
Russia
Russia ranks sixth with an IQ score of 103.78. It increased by +0.62 compared with the previous year, showing a gradual improvement trend. The number of participants was relatively large at 29,170, so the statistical strength of the results is moderate. This change is not significant but indicates a continued upward trend. Russia remains comfortably in the middle of the top ten. The score is slightly lower than Australia but ahead of Singapore.
Singapore
Singapore ranks seventh with an IQ of 103.56. The change from last year is -1.58, one of the larger decreases in this data set. Despite this, the country remains within the top ten globally. The number of participants was 6,880, which is relatively small compared to larger countries. Singapore has fallen less than Russia this year.
Mongolia
Mongolia ranks eighth with an IQ of 102.61. Compared to the previous year, the change was small at -0.25. The number of participants was 2,437, making it one of the smaller datasets. The score remains close to last year’s value, indicating consistency. There are no major changes in ranking positions. Mongolia remains in the bottom half of the top ten, but maintains a stable cognitive average in global comparisons.
New Zealand
New Zealand ranks ninth with an IQ of 102.35. Change compared to the previous year +0.27. The participant sample was small, only 1,184 people. It’s not a huge increase, but it still makes the score go up. The country’s ranking remains close to Mongolia. The change is not enough to significantly alter the position.
Vietnam
Vietnam ranks tenth with an IQ of 102.26. The most significant change in the data set is here, an increase of +2.14 from the previous year. The number of participants was 14,915, which was a large scale. This rise puts Vietnam firmly in the top ten. This improvement is the highest among all countries on the list.
