Kim Jong-un's IQ: 120
Kim Jong-un
Estimated IQ
120
Known For
North Korean Supreme Leader, Switzerland-educated, third-generation ruler
About Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un is the Supreme Leader of North Korea, having assumed power after his father Kim Jong-il's death in 2011 at approximately age twenty-seven. He attended school in Switzerland under a pseudonym in the late 1990s and early 2000s, studying at the International School of Berne, where he was reportedly an enthusiastic basketball fan and reasonably sociable student before returning to North Korea to complete his education at Kim Il-sung Military University. His estimated IQ of 120 reflects average-to-above-average intelligence, with the caveat that governing one of the world's most information-restricted countries makes external assessment extremely difficult — almost all available information is filtered through defector accounts, intelligence agency assessments, and state propaganda.
What an IQ of 120 Means
Kim's estimated IQ of 120 reflects average-to-above-average intelligence as externally assessed — though the information basis for this assessment is significantly more limited than for leaders of open societies. His consolidation of power after assuming leadership was considered by North Korea analysts as skillful: he rapidly eliminated potential rivals (including his uncle Jang Song-thaek, executed in 2013) and established personal authority within a system that had been his father's, not his. His management of the nuclear weapons program — accelerating its development through multiple successful missile and warhead tests — reflects technical and strategic decision-making consistent with above-average intelligence. His summit meetings with Trump (2018, 2019) demonstrated sophisticated diplomatic maneuvering.
How Kim Jong-un Compares
To understand where this falls on the IQ scale, see our complete IQ score ranges guide, or learn what IQ actually measures.
Famous IQ Comparison
| Person | Estimated IQ | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Jong-un | 120 | North Korean Supreme Leader, Switzerland-educated, third-generation ruler |
| Steve Jobs | 130–145 | Apple co-founder, iPhone, Macintosh |
| Barack Obama | 130–145 | 44th US President, Harvard Law Review |
| Kim Kardashian | 115–125 | Media mogul, entrepreneur, law student |
| Oprah Winfrey | 120–130 | Media mogul, talk show host, philanthropist |
| Richard Feynman | 125 | Nobel Prize physicist, quantum electrodynamics |
| Taylor Swift | 115–125 | Singer-songwriter, music industry mogul |
See the complete famous IQ list or check what an IQ of 120 means.
Careers That Match an IQ of 120
- Doctor — typical IQ range: 120–130
- Lawyer — typical IQ range: 115–130
- Engineer — typical IQ range: 115–128
Explore the full IQ by career chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kim Jong-un's IQ?
Kim Jong-un's IQ is estimated at approximately 120, in the above-average range, though this estimate carries more uncertainty than most — North Korea's information restrictions mean that almost all available data comes from defector accounts, intelligence assessments, and filtered sources. This estimate reflects his Switzerland education, his successful consolidation of power after assuming leadership in 2011, and his management of North Korea's nuclear weapons program through multiple successful tests that expanded the country's deterrent capability despite international sanctions.
What did Kim Jong-un study in Switzerland?
Kim attended the International School of Berne (Liebefeld-Steinholzli) in Switzerland from approximately 1993 to 1998 under the pseudonym 'Pak Un,' listed as the son of a North Korean embassy employee. Classmates who have spoken to journalists and biographers describe him as a shy, basketball-obsessed student who was a fan of Michael Jordan and Jackie Chan, who got along reasonably well socially but was not particularly academically distinguished. He reportedly spoke basic German and was interested in technology. The Switzerland period is significant because it is the only extended period Kim spent outside North Korea and the only direct evidence of his development in an environment not entirely controlled by the North Korean state.
How has Kim Jong-un's leadership differed from his father's?
Kim Jong-un's leadership has differed from his father Kim Jong-il's in several notable respects: he has been more publicly visible (Kim Jong-il was famously reclusive), has allowed his wife Ri Sol-ju a public role unusual in North Korean leadership, has appeared more comfortable with modern technology and consumer culture, and has significantly accelerated the nuclear and ballistic missile program beyond what his father achieved. He has also been notably more brutal in eliminating potential rivals — the execution of his uncle, the reported assassination of his half-brother Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia in 2017, and the purging of senior military officers suggest a consolidation of personal power more thorough than his father's. His economic policies have not produced significant improvement in North Korean living standards despite some market liberalization.
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MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.