World intelligence rankings often get a lot of attention because they attempt to compare average scores on cognitive tests across different countries. The 2026 data set shows some clear shifts in a few countries, with some countries improving while others declining slightly compared to last year.
South Korea, China and Japan still sit near the top, remaining steady in the world rankings. Meanwhile, changes are beginning to appear in places like Vietnam and Australia, which are moving in different directions.These numbers come from participant samples and standardized testing methods. Experts often point out that such outcomes can be influenced by cultural, educational, social and economic factors as well.According to the International Intelligence Test and World Statistics 2026, check below the average global intelligence rankings 2026.
existing Countries with the highest IQ in the world
| Rank | nation | IQ | Participants | previous year | It changes |
| 1 | South Korea | 106.97 | 26,996 | 106.43 | 0.54 |
| 2 | China | 106.48 | 229,918 | 107.19 | -0.71 |
| 3 | Japan | 106.3 | 55,994 | 106.4 | -0.1 |
| 4 | Iran | 104.8 | 10,538 | 106.3 | -1.5 |
| 5 | Australia | 104.45 | 4,245 | 102.57 | 1.88 |
| 6 | Russia | 103.78 | 29,170 | 103.16 | 0.62 |
| 7 | Singapore | 103.56 | 6,880 | 105.14 | -1.58 |
| 8 | Mongolia | 102.61 | 2,437 | 102.86 | -0.25 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 102.35 | 1,184 | 102.08 | 0.27 |
| 10 | Vietnam | 102.26 | 14,915 | 100.12 | 2.14 |
Average IQ by country 2026
South Korea
South Korea comes in first place with an IQ of 106.97. While the growth compared to last year’s data is small, it is still significant. Educational structures in South Korea are very strict and competitive. Participation rate is good, with more than 26,999 people participating in the survey.
The improvement is slight but overall positive.
China
China ranks second with an IQ of 106.48. The figure shows a slight decline from last year’s level of 107.19. Despite this decline, China still has among the highest rates in the world. The sample size is very large, with over 229,000 participants, making it one of the most statistically significant entries. This decrease is small but comparatively noticeable.
Japan
Japan has an IQ of 106.30, giving it third place in the world rankings table.
There is no significant difference from the previous period with a difference of -0.10. This means consistency, not variation. The number of participants in the survey is close to 56 thousand people.
Iran
Iran ranks fourth with an IQ of 104.80. The change from the previous year is -1.50, which is relatively larger compared to others in the top five. The number of participants is more than 10,000, which is a medium-sized number.
This decrease may be related to changes in sample selection or testing conditions, although no single cause has been clearly identified in the data. Despite this decline, Iran is still at the top global level.
Australia
Australia’s IQ is 104.45 and ranks fifth on the list. It also shows one of the highest positive differences (+1.88) in the dataset. Australia’s positive differential is unique compared to the rest of the countries in the top ten.
Its participating group is also much smaller, with fewer than 4,000 members. This increase raises Australia from its previous position.
Russia
Russia ranks sixth with an IQ of 103.78. The increase over the previous year is +0.62, which indicates a gradual improvement. The number of participants is relatively large at 29,170, giving the result moderate statistical power. The change is not radical but indicates a steady upward movement.
Russia remains comfortably in the middle of the top 10 range. The result puts it just below Australia but ahead of Singapore.
Singapore
Singapore ranks seventh with an IQ of 103.56. The change from last year is -1.58, which is among the largest declines in this data set. Despite this, the country remains in the top ten in the world rankings. The size of participants is 6,880, which is relatively small compared to larger countries.
This decline pushes Singapore below Russia this year.
Mongolia
Mongolia ranked eighth with an IQ of 102.61. The change is slight at -0.25 compared to the previous year. The number of participants is 2,437, making it one of the smaller datasets. The result is still close to last year’s value, indicating consistency. There is no significant movement in the ranking position. Mongolia remains in the bottom half of the top ten but still maintains a stable cognitive average within this global comparison.
New Zealand
New Zealand ranks ninth with an IQ of 102.35. The change is +0.27 from the previous year. The sample of participants is small at 1,184 individuals. The increase is slight but still raises the score higher. The country remains close to Mongolia in the rankings position. The difference is not large enough to change the position significantly.
Vietnam
Vietnam ranked tenth with an IQ of 102.26. The most notable change in the data set is here, with an increase of +2.14 from the previous year. The number of participants is 14,915, which is a relatively strong number. This rise places Vietnam firmly within the top ten. The improvement is the highest among all the countries listed.
