Iran ranks fourth globally in IQ, surpassing Western, regional nations

Tehran’s strong educational and healthcare systems credited for high performance

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iran has secured the fourth position in a global intelligence ranking based on average IQ scores, according to a study conducted by the International IQ Test involving more than 1.3 million participants worldwide.

The study revealed that Iran’s average IQ stands at 106.3, placing it behind only China (107.19), South Korea (106.43), and Japan (106.4). 

The results position Iran ahead of several Western and regional countries, underlining its citizens’ strong cognitive capabilities.

Experts attribute Iran’s high ranking to a range of social and developmental factors, including an advanced education system, widespread bilingualism, improved healthcare infrastructure, and better nutrition. 

These elements are seen as vital contributors to the country’s intellectual performance.

The report also cited the Flynn Effect—a global trend where IQ scores have been rising by approximately 2.31 points per decade—as further evidence of growing cognitive development around the world, particularly in nations investing in education and living standards.

While East Asian countries dominated the top positions, the study found that Europe and North America maintained average scores. 

In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America were generally ranked lower, a result attributed to ongoing economic and health challenges in those regions.

The International IQ Test methodology is based on Raven’s Progressive Matrices, a non-verbal assessment created by British psychologist John Carlyle Raven in 1936. 

Participants solve logical pattern-based puzzles, making the test suitable for evaluating intelligence across different cultures and languages.