Is an IQ of 145 Good? What It Means & Where You Stand
Classification
Very Gifted
Percentile
99.9th
Rarity
1 in 741
High
What Does an IQ of 145 Mean?
An IQ of 145 is profoundly gifted territory, placing you at the 99.9th percentile — higher than 999 out of 1,000 people. Scores this high are so rare that they are difficult to measure reliably with standard IQ tests, which are designed and normed for the middle range of intelligence. People at this level experience a qualitatively different relationship with information: complex systems feel intuitive, learning new domains happens remarkably fast, and novel insights emerge naturally from connecting disparate ideas.
An IQ of 145 places you at the 99.9th percentile, which means you scored higher than approximately 99.9% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. This score falls into the Very Gifted range on the IQ scale. With a rarity of 1 in 741, this score is uncommon and indicates strong cognitive abilities.
To understand how IQ scores are calculated and what they measure, see our complete guide on what IQ is and how it works. For a full breakdown of all score ranges and their meanings, visit our IQ score ranges page.
Career Context for an IQ of 145
At 145, career choice is less about what you can do — the answer is virtually anything — and more about what sustains your interest. Many individuals at this level become leading researchers, inventors, or creative visionaries. Some struggle in traditional corporate structures because routine work fails to engage them. Finding meaning and challenge is often more important than finding a job.
How Does an IQ of 145 Compare?
Here's how a score of 145 compares to nearby IQ scores:
| Score | Classification | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| IQ 130 | Very Superior / Gifted | 98th |
| IQ 135 | Very Superior / Gifted | 99th |
| IQ 140 | Genius-level | 99.6th |
| IQ 150 | Exceptionally Advanced | 99.96th |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 145 a good IQ score?
A 145 IQ is exceptional and rare. At the 99.9th percentile, fewer than 1 in 700 people score this high. It represents profound cognitive gifts that go well beyond the gifted threshold of 130.
How rare is a 145 IQ?
Extremely rare. Only about 1 in 741 people have an IQ of 145 or higher. In a city of 100,000 people, you might expect to find roughly 135 individuals at this level. Standard IQ tests begin to lose precision at these extremes.
What challenges come with a very high IQ?
People with very high IQs sometimes struggle with feeling intellectually isolated, finding it difficult to relate to peers, experiencing frustration with the pace of normal conversation or work, and dealing with heightened existential awareness. Many benefit from connecting with others at similar cognitive levels.
Explore Other IQ Scores
Take our free IQ test to find out where you stand, or learn more about what IQ really measures.