IQ Comparison Charts
How do men and women compare on IQ tests? Which countries score highest? Do doctors outperform engineers? Explore 25 science-backed IQ comparisons spanning gender, nationality, career, education, and lifestyle — with balanced verdicts grounded in peer-reviewed research.
Gender & Demographics
Men vs Women IQ
Introverts vs Extroverts IQ
Left Brain vs Right Brain IQ
Night Owls vs Early Birds IQ
Only Children vs Siblings IQ
Countries
Careers
Education
College Degree vs No Degree IQ
PhD vs Master's IQ
STEM vs Humanities Students IQ
Private School vs Public School IQ
Lifestyle
Vegetarian vs Meat Eater IQ
Gamers vs Non-Gamers IQ
Readers vs TV Watchers IQ
Athletes vs Non-Athletes IQ
Meditators vs Non-Meditators IQ
Regular Exercisers vs Sedentary IQ
How to Interpret These Comparisons
- Averages, not individuals. Every comparison shows population means with enormous individual overlap — these numbers say nothing about any specific person's intelligence.
- Correlation vs causation. Many lifestyle and education comparisons reflect who chooses those paths (selection effects) as much as what those paths do to intelligence (causal effects).
- National estimates carry uncertainty. Country-level IQ figures reflect complex environmental, educational, and socioeconomic factors — not fixed biological differences between nationalities.
- IQ measures one dimension. Standard IQ tests capture analytical reasoning well but underrepresent social intelligence, creativity, emotional intelligence, and practical wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men or women have a higher average IQ?
Average IQ is virtually identical for men and women — the difference in means is less than 1 IQ point across major population studies. Men show slightly higher score variance, meaning more men appear at both the highest and lowest extremes, but the averages are statistically equal.
Which country has the highest average IQ?
Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong consistently rank among the top-scoring nations in national IQ studies, all averaging approximately 105–108. These countries also lead international academic assessments such as PISA in mathematics and science.
Which profession has the highest average IQ?
Research scientists — particularly in theoretical physics, mathematics, and philosophy — average among the highest IQs of any occupational group, typically 125–135. Physicians, engineers, lawyers, and programmers all average in the 120–126 range, placing them in the top 5–10% of the general population.
Does lifestyle affect IQ?
Yes. Regular aerobic exercise, reading, adequate sleep, and mindfulness meditation are all associated with higher cognitive performance and have causal support from randomized controlled trials. Sedentary behavior and heavy passive TV watching are associated with lower cognitive scores. Lifestyle choices influence IQ through neuroplasticity, BDNF production, and crystallized intelligence accumulation.
Take our free IQ test to see where you stand, or read our complete guide to what IQ actually measures.
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.