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SHAH ALAM - World Intelligence Quotient (IQ) ranking 2026 shows a significant upward trend in several Asian countries, which continue to dominate the top spots. Based on data from the International IQ Test and Global Statistics 2026, these rankings summarise the overall picture of countries with the highest average IQ scores in the world for this year.
1. South Korea – (IQ 106.97)
South Korea ranks first with an average IQ of 106.97, derived from 26,996 respondents. This increase of 0.54 points reflects the strength of the country's education system, which places a heavy emphasis on academic discipline, particularly in science and mathematics.
2. China – (IQ 106.48)
China ranks second with an average IQ of 106.48 based on a large sample size of 229,918 respondents. Despite a slight decrease of 0.71 points, the country still consistently maintains a very high performance.
3. Japan – (IQ 106.30)
Japan follows closely in third place with an average IQ of 106.30 from 55,994 respondents. Japan's success is heavily influenced by a well-organised education system, a disciplined work culture, and a near-universal literacy rate among its population.
4. Iran – (IQ 104.80)
Iran ranks fourth with an average IQ of 104.80 based on 10,538 respondents. According to the latest findings, Iran remains one of the countries with high cognitive scores globally.
5. Australia – (IQ 104.45)
Australia ranks fifth with an average IQ of 104.45 from 4,245 respondents. This position is driven by quality education, broad access to learning and an emphasis on critical and creative thinking skills.
6. Russia – (IQ 103.78)
Russia ranks sixth with an average IQ of 103.78 derived from 29,170 respondents. Russia continues to maintain its reputation as a country with consistent academic strength.
7. Singapore – (IQ 103.56)
Singapore ranks seventh with an average IQ of 103.56 based on 6,880 respondents. Despite recording a decrease of 1.58 points, the country remains in the world's top 10 group. A highly structured and performance-orientated education system continues to be the main pillar of its achievement.
8. Mongolia – (IQ 102.61)
Mongolia ranked eighth with an average IQ of 102.61 from 2,437 respondents. A small drop of 0.25 points did not affect its position in the list. The country still displays a stable cognitive level on a global scale.
9. New Zealand – (IQ 102.35)
New Zealand ranks ninth with an average IQ of 102.35 based on 1,184 respondents. A minor increase of 0.27 points reflects consistent progress. An inclusive education system along with an emphasis on balancing academic achievement and life skills contribute to this performance.
10. Vietnam – (IQ 102.26)
Vietnam completes the list in tenth place with an average IQ of 102.26 from 14,915 respondents. A significant increase of 2.14 points makes it among the fastest-growing countries. Advancements in the education sector as well as the use of modern learning technology are the main drivers of this rise.
