17.02.2026 16:10
The average IQ ranking by country for the year 2026 has been shared with the public. The study, based on online test data and analyzing the results of 1,212,714 individuals, garnered significant attention worldwide. According to the list, South Korea ranks at the top, while Turkey's national ranking and city-based performance stood out.
The "Top 100 Countries by Average IQ 2026" report prepared by International IQ Test, which conducts IQ assessments on an international scale, was updated on January 1, 2026. The analysis is based on the results of participants who solved the same Raven type (abstract reasoning-based) test throughout 2025. Only countries with at least 100 participants were included in the study.
Officials emphasize that all participants were evaluated on the same scale; however, they also underline that due to the voluntary nature of the data, the results do not directly represent the general population of the countries. According to experts, IQ tests alone are not sufficient to measure all dimensions of intelligence; cultural, educational, and socioeconomic factors can significantly influence the results.
Here are the countries with the highest average IQ in 2026:
South Korea – 106.97
China – 106.48
Japan – 106.3
Iran – 104.8
Australia – 104.45
Russia – 103.78
Singapore – 103.56
Mongolia – 102.61
New Zealand – 102.35
Vietnam – 102.26
Spain – 102.24
Cyprus – 102.12
Canada – 102.09
United Kingdom – 101.57
Sri Lanka – 101.22
Slovenia – 101.15
Belarus – 101.05
United States – 101.04
Albania – 101
Switzerland – 100.84
WHERE DOES TURKEY RANK?
According to the research, Turkey ranked 69th with an average IQ of 97. While this result caused a significant stir on social media, the city-based ranking drew separate attention.
In the 2025 report, three cities from Turkey managed to enter the top 30 in the world ranking. The positions of the cities that stood out particularly with cognitive achievement, student density, and urban dynamism criteria are as follows:
Eskişehir: With its dense student population, cultural vibrancy, and planned urbanization projects, it entered the list at 15th place, surpassing many world capitals.
Ankara: With its academic accumulation and practical problem-solving capacity developed in times of crisis, it ranked 19th.
İstanbul: Thanks to its geopolitical location, cultural diversity, and speed of digital transformation, it emerged as the 24th smartest city in the world.
Experts remind once again that online and voluntary-based tests may have limitations in terms of scientific representativeness; they emphasize that intelligence is a multidimensional concept that cannot be evaluated solely by a numerical average.