Average IQ in Mumbai (India): Estimates & Key Factors
Estimated Avg IQ
87
IQ Range
84–90
Region
Asia
Mumbai is India's financial capital and the largest city in the country by economic output. As the home of the Bombay Stock Exchange, major multinational headquarters, and India's film industry, it attracts ambitious professionals from across the subcontinent. Mumbai's urban premium over India's national average reflects the concentration of educated professionals, though severe inequality and inadequate infrastructure in informal settlements temper the city-wide average. Elite institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay produce world-class graduates who contribute significantly to the city's intellectual profile.
Important note: City-level IQ estimates are especially approximate. They reflect selection effects — cities attract educated, ambitious migrants — as well as local education quality, economic conditions, and available data. These figures do not reflect the intelligence or potential of any individual resident. For context on what IQ scores measure, see our guide to IQ.
Key Factors Shaping IQ in Mumbai
- •India's financial capital attracting the country's most ambitious professionals
- •IIT Bombay and other elite institutions concentrate top academic talent
- •Large, prosperous professional and entrepreneurial class
- •Urban infrastructure advantages over India's rural national average
To understand what IQ scores measure and how they're calculated, see our guide on what IQ is. For a breakdown of what different score levels mean, visit our IQ score ranges page.
Mumbai vs. India National Average
Mumbai's estimate of ~87 sits above India's national estimate of ~82, consistent with the selection effects large cities often show — educated, ambitious people migrating toward economic and cultural capitals.
Where This Number Comes From
No comprehensive IQ survey exists for Mumbai — or for almost any city. The figure above is an extrapolation: it starts from national-level estimates (compiled cross-national datasets such as Lynn & Vanhanen's, alongside PISA and TIMSS assessment data), then adjusts for the city's educational attainment and economic composition. Those national compilations are themselves debated in the academic literature, and a city-level extrapolation inherits all of that uncertainty and adds more. Treat the range shown above as an illustrative band, not a measured confidence interval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Mumbai?
Mumbai's estimated average IQ is around 87, above India's national average of approximately 82. The city's role as India's financial capital attracts highly educated professionals, creating an urban premium, though significant inequality and inadequate infrastructure in informal settlements affect the overall average.
How does Mumbai compare to Delhi and Bangalore?
Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore all score in a similar range around 87–88, all above India's national average. Bangalore may edge slightly higher due to its technology sector concentration, while Mumbai's strength lies in finance and Mumbai's Bollywood industry.
What factors limit Mumbai's average despite being a wealthy city?
Mumbai's significant informal settlement population (dharavi and similar areas) experiences inadequate access to quality education, nutrition, and healthcare, which tempers the city-wide average despite the large, prosperous professional class in formal employment sectors.
Explore More Cities
See all cities on our Average IQ by City page, or take our free IQ test to see how you compare.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Editorial team focused on cognitive testing & psychometrics research
Last updated
May 10, 2026
MyIQScores content is written and maintained by our editorial team using published research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics as its source base. We label estimates as estimates, link primary sources where available, correct errors when readers flag them, and update pages as research or feedback warrants — see our corrections policy.