According to the average IQ Score Nepal (42.99) is considered as the dumbest country in the world.
The countries with the lowest average IQ scores in the world are Nepal (42.99), Liberia (45.07), Sierra Leone (45.07), Guatemala (47.72), and The Gambia (52.68).
These countries are all located in regions with warmer climates, lower incomes, and lower education expenditures, which may negatively affect their IQ levels.
However, IQ scores are not the only way to measure intelligence, and they may not reflect other aspects of human potential such as creativity, emotional intelligence, social skills, and cultural diversity.
Therefore, it is important to be respectful and open-minded when discussing the intelligence of different countries and populations.
Nepal (42.99)
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, with a population of about 30 million people.
Recent UNESCO data reveals that Nepal’s literacy rate stood at 89.88 percent in 2021, but a notable gender disparity exists, with males at 78.59 percent and females at 67.71 percent.
The gross enrollment ratio (GER) for pre-primary education was 86.7 percent in 2019, while basic education had a GER of 121.8 percent in 2018.
Secondary education had a GER of 59.6 percent in 2018, and tertiary education lagged behind at a mere 13.7 percent in 2019.
Nepal’s education system encounters several challenges, including substandard teaching and learning, insufficient infrastructure and resources, high dropout and repetition rates, socio-economic disparities, political instability, and inadequate coordination among stakeholders.
Liberia (45.07)
Liberia, a West African nation, has a population of around 5 million people. The country’s average IQ score is relatively low at 45.07, as per a source.
Liberia’s education system has faced significant challenges due to the First Liberian Civil War and Second Liberian Civil War, which occurred between 1989 and 2003, as well as the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015.
These crises resulted in disruptions to schooling, infrastructure destruction, displacement of teachers and students, and a decrease in funding and enrollment.
Sierra Leone (45.07)
Sierra Leone, a West African nation, hosts approximately 8 million inhabitants. This country displays a notably low average IQ score, standing at 45.07 as per a certain source.
A myriad of aspects including poverty, conflict, and levels of education might be key influences on this statistic.
Sierra Leone’s educational framework experienced major detriments due to the decade-long civil war from 1991 to 2002, and again during the Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016.
Schooling faced numerous interruptions, infrastructure saw widespread destruction, teachers and students found themselves displaced, and overall funding and enrollment witnessed a sharp decrease during these crises.
Guatemala (47.72)
Guatemala, a Central American country with approximately 18 million people, exhibits a low average IQ score of 47.72.
The education system in Guatemala is both free and mandatory for a duration of six years, spanning from ages 7 to 14.
It follows a five-tier structure, commencing with primary school and progressing to secondary school and tertiary education, which is determined by the level of technical training.
While Spanish serves as the official language of instruction, bilingual programs for indigenous languages also exist.
The Gambia (52.68)
The Gambia is a West African country with a population of about 2.5 million people. The Gambia has a low average IQ score of 52.68, according to a source.
The Gambia’s education system is free and compulsory for nine years, from age 7 to 16. The Gambia has a five-tier system of education starting with primary school, followed by lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and tertiary education, depending on the level of technical training.
The official language of instruction is English, but there are also bilingual programs for local languages.
Countries by IQ – Average IQ by Country 2023
Rank | Country | IQ | 2023 Population |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 106.48 | 123,294,513 |
2 | Taiwan | 106.47 | 23,923,276 |
3 | Singapore | 105.89 | 6,014,723 |
4 | Hong Kong | 105.37 | 7,491,609 |
5 | China | 104.1 | 1,425,671,352 |
6 | South Korea | 102.35 | 51,784,059 |
7 | Belarus | 101.6 | 9,498,238 |
8 | Finland | 101.2 | 5,545,475 |
9 | Liechtenstein | 101.07 | 39,584 |
10 | Germany | 100.74 | 83,294,633 |
11 | Netherlands | 100.74 | 17,618,299 |
12 | Estonia | 100.72 | 1,322,765 |
13 | Luxembourg | 99.87 | 654,768 |
14 | Macau | 99.82 | 704,149 |
15 | Cambodia | 99.75 | 16,944,826 |
16 | Canada | 99.52 | 38,781,291 |
17 | Australia | 99.24 | 26,439,111 |
18 | Hungary | 99.24 | 10,156,239 |
19 | Switzerland | 99.24 | 8,796,669 |
20 | United Kingdom | 99.12 | 67,736,802 |
21 | Greenland | 98.89 | 56,643 |
22 | North Korea | 98.82 | 26,160,821 |
23 | Slovenia | 98.6 | 2,119,675 |
24 | New Zealand | 98.57 | 5,228,100 |
25 | Austria | 98.38 | 8,958,960 |
26 | Iceland | 98.26 | 375,318 |
27 | Denmark | 97.83 | 5,910,913 |
28 | Belgium | 97.49 | 11,686,140 |
29 | United States | 97.43 | 339,996,563 |
30 | Norway | 97.13 | 5,474,360 |
31 | Sweden | 97 | 10,612,086 |
32 | France | 96.69 | 64,756,584 |
33 | Poland | 96.35 | 41,026,067 |
34 | Slovakia | 96.32 | 5,795,199 |
35 | Russia | 96.29 | 144,444,359 |
36 | Lithuania | 95.89 | 2,718,352 |
37 | Croatia | 95.75 | 4,008,617 |
38 | Andorra | 95.2 | 80,088 |
39 | Ireland | 95.13 | 5,056,935 |
40 | Czech Republic | 94.92 | 10,495,295 |
41 | Latvia | 94.79 | 1,830,211 |
42 | Italy | 94.23 | 58,870,762 |
43 | Vanuatu | 93.92 | 334,506 |
44 | New Caledonia | 93.92 | 292,991 |
45 | Spain | 93.9 | 47,519,628 |
46 | Bermuda | 93.48 | 64,069 |
47 | Cyprus | 93.39 | 1,260,138 |
48 | Portugal | 92.77 | 10,247,605 |
49 | Israel | 92.43 | 9,174,520 |
50 | Barbados | 91.6 | 281,995 |
51 | Malta | 91.27 | 535,064 |
52 | Myanmar | 91.18 | 54,577,997 |
53 | Mongolia | 91.03 | 3,447,157 |
54 | Bulgaria | 90.99 | 6,687,717 |
55 | Greece | 90.77 | 10,341,277 |
56 | Suriname | 90.29 | 623,236 |
57 | Ukraine | 90.07 | 36,744,634 |
58 | Moldova | 89.98 | 3,435,931 |
59 | Serbia | 89.6 | 7,149,077 |
60 | Vietnam | 89.53 | 98,858,950 |
61 | Iraq | 89.28 | 45,504,560 |
62 | Uzbekistan | 89.01 | 35,163,944 |
63 | Kazakhstan | 88.89 | 19,606,633 |
64 | Thailand | 88.87 | 71,801,279 |
65 | Armenia | 88.82 | 2,777,970 |
66 | Bosnia And Herzegovina | 88.54 | 3,210,847 |
67 | Costa Rica | 88.34 | 5,212,173 |
68 | Bhutan | 87.94 | 787,424 |
69 | Chile | 87.89 | 19,629,590 |
70 | Mexico | 87.73 | 128,455,567 |
71 | Tajikistan | 87.71 | 10,143,543 |
72 | Uruguay | 87.59 | 3,423,108 |
73 | Malaysia | 87.58 | 34,308,525 |
74 | Brunei | 87.58 | 452,524 |
75 | Bahamas | 86.99 | 412,623 |
76 | Romania | 86.88 | 19,892,812 |
77 | Turkey | 86.8 | 85,816,199 |
78 | Argentina | 86.63 | 45,773,884 |
79 | Sri Lanka | 86.62 | 21,893,579 |
80 | Mauritius | 86.56 | 1,300,557 |
81 | Turkmenistan | 85.86 | 6,516,100 |
82 | Montenegro | 85.78 | 626,485 |
83 | Trinidad And Tobago | 85.63 | 1,534,937 |
84 | Azerbaijan | 84.81 | 10,412,651 |
85 | Georgia | 84.5 | 3,728,282 |
86 | Turks And Caicos Islands | 84.29 | 46,062 |
87 | Paraguay | 84.04 | 6,861,524 |
88 | Fiji | 83.96 | 936,375 |
89 | Solomon Islands | 83.96 | 740,424 |
90 | Samoa | 83.96 | 225,681 |
91 | Kiribati | 83.96 | 133,515 |
92 | Micronesia | 83.96 | 115,224 |
93 | Tonga | 83.96 | 107,773 |
94 | Marshall Islands | 83.96 | 41,996 |
95 | Cook Islands | 83.96 | 17,044 |
96 | Cuba | 83.9 | 11,194,449 |
97 | Bahrain | 83.6 | 1,485,509 |
98 | Brazil | 83.38 | 216,422,446 |
99 | Guyana | 83.23 | 813,834 |
100 | Colombia | 83.13 | 52,085,168 |
101 | Venezuela | 82.99 | 28,838,499 |
102 | Cayman Islands | 82.24 | 69,310 |
103 | Afghanistan | 82.12 | 42,239,854 |
104 | Haiti | 82.1 | 11,724,763 |
105 | Dominican Republic | 82.05 | 11,332,972 |
106 | United Arab Emirates | 82.05 | 9,516,871 |
107 | Puerto Rico | 81.99 | 3,260,314 |
108 | North Macedonia | 81.91 | 2,085,679 |
109 | Albania | 81.75 | 2,832,439 |
110 | Lebanon | 81.7 | 5,353,930 |
111 | Philippines | 81.64 | 117,337,368 |
112 | Peru | 81.44 | 34,352,719 |
113 | Northern Mariana Islands | 81.36 | 49,796 |
114 | Laos | 80.99 | 7,633,779 |
115 | Libya | 80.92 | 6,888,388 |
116 | Qatar | 80.78 | 2,716,391 |
117 | Jordan | 80.7 | 11,337,052 |
118 | Maldives | 80.54 | 521,021 |
119 | Iran | 80.01 | 89,172,767 |
120 | Pakistan | 80 | 240,485,658 |
121 | Grenada | 79.34 | 126,183 |
122 | Tunisia | 79.22 | 12,458,223 |
123 | Kyrgyzstan | 79.09 | 6,735,347 |
124 | Panama | 79 | 4,468,087 |
125 | Sudan | 78.87 | 48,109,006 |
126 | Chad | 78.87 | 18,278,568 |
127 | Seychelles | 78.76 | 107,660 |
128 | Oman | 78.7 | 4,644,384 |
129 | Kuwait | 78.64 | 4,310,108 |
130 | Indonesia | 78.49 | 277,534,122 |
131 | Papua New Guinea | 78.49 | 10,329,931 |
132 | Timor Leste | 78.49 | 1,360,596 |
133 | Ecuador | 78.26 | 18,190,484 |
134 | Palestine | 77.69 | 5,371,230 |
135 | Senegal | 77.37 | 17,763,163 |
136 | Comoros | 77.07 | 852,075 |
137 | Madagascar | 76.79 | 30,325,732 |
138 | British Virgin Islands | 76.69 | 31,538 |
139 | Bolivia | 76.53 | 12,388,571 |
140 | Uganda | 76.42 | 48,582,334 |
141 | Saudi Arabia | 76.36 | 36,947,025 |
142 | Egypt | 76.32 | 112,716,598 |
143 | India | 76.24 | 1,428,627,663 |
144 | Algeria | 76 | 45,606,480 |
145 | Kenya | 75.2 | 55,100,586 |
146 | Angola | 75.1 | 36,684,202 |
147 | Jamaica | 75.08 | 2,825,544 |
148 | Tanzania | 74.95 | 67,438,106 |
149 | Syria | 74.41 | 23,227,014 |
150 | Bangladesh | 74.33 | 172,954,319 |
151 | Zimbabwe | 74.01 | 16,665,409 |
152 | Burkina Faso | 73.8 | 23,251,485 |
153 | Saint Lucia | 73.68 | 180,251 |
154 | Mozambique | 72.5 | 33,897,354 |
155 | Burundi | 72.09 | 13,238,559 |
156 | Niger | 70.82 | 27,202,843 |
157 | Antigua And Barbuda | 70.48 | 94,298 |
158 | Saint Kitts And Nevis | 70.48 | 47,755 |
159 | Rwanda | 69.95 | 14,094,683 |
160 | Benin | 69.71 | 13,712,828 |
161 | Malawi | 69.7 | 20,931,751 |
162 | El Salvador | 69.63 | 6,364,943 |
163 | Botswana | 69.45 | 2,675,352 |
164 | South Africa | 68.87 | 60,414,495 |
165 | Lesotho | 68.87 | 2,330,318 |
166 | Eswatini | 68.87 | 1,210,822 |
167 | Eritrea | 68.77 | 3,748,901 |
168 | Zambia | 68.43 | 20,569,737 |
169 | Ethiopia | 68.42 | 126,527,060 |
170 | Djibouti | 68.41 | 1,136,455 |
171 | Nigeria | 67.76 | 223,804,632 |
172 | Cameroon | 67.76 | 28,647,293 |
173 | Somalia | 67.67 | 18,143,378 |
174 | Morocco | 67.03 | 37,840,044 |
175 | Namibia | 66.19 | 2,604,172 |
176 | Dominica | 66.03 | 73,040 |
177 | Sao Tome And Principe | 65.22 | 231,856 |
178 | Dr Congo | 64.92 | 102,262,808 |
179 | Saint Vincent And The Grenadines | 63.42 | 103,698 |
180 | Republic Of The Congo | 62.97 | 6,106,869 |
181 | Gabon | 62.97 | 2,436,566 |
182 | Yemen | 62.86 | 34,449,825 |
183 | Central African Republic | 62.55 | 5,742,315 |
184 | Belize | 62.55 | 410,825 |
185 | Honduras | 62.16 | 10,593,798 |
186 | Togo | 59.83 | 9,053,799 |
187 | Mali | 59.76 | 23,293,698 |
188 | Mauritania | 59.76 | 4,862,989 |
189 | South Sudan | 58.61 | 11,088,796 |
190 | Ghana | 58.16 | 34,121,985 |
191 | Ivory Coast | 58.16 | 28,873,034 |
192 | Guinea | 53.48 | 14,190,612 |
193 | Nicaragua | 52.69 | 7,046,310 |
194 | Gambia | 52.68 | 2,773,168 |
195 | Cape Verde | 52.5 | 598,682 |
196 | Guatemala | 47.72 | 18,092,026 |
197 | Sierra Leone | 45.07 | 8,791,092 |
198 | Liberia | 45.07 | 5,418,377 |
199 | Nepal | 42.99 | 30,896,590 |