Ranking countries by level of intelligence may be similar to comparing apples and oranges. However, there are techniques by which to assess the level of intelligence in a country. In this article, you will learn about the ten most intelligent nations, rated by IQ, but, taking into account other important factors.
Research methods
One of the most popular ways to measure intelligence is the IQ test. Each test consists of many thematic questions with increasing complexity. Among them there are tasks for logical and spatial thinking, an assessment of the ability to independently compare and generalize facts, etc. There have been endless studies as to whether a standardized test accurately reflects the level of education and human abilities in areas such as memory, creativity or work. In addition, if the IQ test is being developed, say, in a European country, will it not automatically be designed for representatives of local nations and does it infringe on people from other continents?
There are other ways to value the smartest nation in the world. For example, you can take a look at school grades of students in areas such as science and mathematics, as well as conduct a survey. They are carried out directly during the education of children at school, which allows them to assess their current level of intelligence. Unlike other methods, the survey gives an idea of how students study, which is a good way to look at how the education system of the country as a whole works.
Another way to assess the intelligence of a nation is to study the country's contribution to mathematics and science. Statistical data, such as the number of scientific papers and discoveries per capita, show a high level of intelligence for scientists in the country, but perhaps not for the entire population. It is precisely in this that the complexity of assessing the intelligence of the whole nation lies.
Some people also look at the level of education in the country, studying how many people have a bachelor, master or doctor of science. However, this approach, by its nature, is biased towards countries with cheap or free higher education systems, and this is more a matter of access to education than of the actual level of intelligence. For example, according to statistics, Russia is in second place in the world in the number of people with higher education, but according to the results of other studies and surveys, Russians are not in the top 10 most intelligent nations.
10. Sweden
The average IQ is about 100 points. Sweden has a good education system - most of the costs of its payment are borne by the government. Thanks to this, it is available to anyone who has good mental abilities. In Sweden, more than seventy-five percent of workers use computers in their workplaces. This is a good indicator of statistics. They also have a fairly large percentage of people with higher education.
9. Austria
The next three countries on this list have an average IQ that is rounded to the same integer, so they will be listed in alphabetical order. Oddly enough, these three countries border each other. This may mean that they have similar cultural characteristics that make their IQ test results very similar. It is possible that due to their proximity, these three countries have similar education systems.
Austria is considered a country with one of the best education systems in the world. For every thousand people in the country, about 7 women and 9 men have a Ph.D. It is for these factors that Austria is in the top of the most intelligent nations in the world. The average IQ in Austria is 102.
8. Germany
Among the Germans there has always been a high percentage of great thinkers. When talking about the fields of philosophy, science or art, one recalls many influential German minds. This is probably due to the fact that German citizens with higher education in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering often go to study for another specialty. In fact, they are in third place in the number of graduates with STEM levels (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), despite the fact that their population is not so large compared to many other countries. Germany has a high GDP, as well as one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Thanks to this, the Germans take pride of place in the ranking of the smartest nations in the world. Statistics show: the average IQ in Germany is 102.
7. Italy
When we think of Italy, we always remember the Roman Empire or the Renaissance. Some of the greatest sculptors, painters, writers and poets came from this southern European country. To date, Italians are showing good progress in mathematics, physics and other fields. The average IQ in Italy is around 102.
6. The Netherlands
The Netherlands has a very good education system. The country with the best education system in the world and the best school exam scores is Finland. However, looking at the average IQ in all countries of the world, Finland takes only 29th place. This perhaps illustrates the difficulty of ranking a country's intelligence by IQ. On the other hand, education can be more focused on memorization and general knowledge, which are not so useful for the IQ test. The average IQ in the Netherlands is 103.
5. Singapore
Singapore opens the five most intelligent countries, which is interesting, they are all located in Asia. It is a small island-city-state in southern Malaysia. Singapore is a place of advanced technology, as well as business and finance. Young Singaporeans are always at the forefront when it comes to results in mathematics and science. Ultra-high GDP and ease of trade provide a ton of money to finance educational and social projects. The average IQ in Singapore is 103.
4. Taiwan
The state of Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Taiwan is world famous for its advances in technology, as well as its dedication to the public education system. Many people in the state speak two languages. As one of Taiwan's largest trading partners is the United States, many young people are fluent in English to gain more career opportunities. The average IQ in Taiwan is 104.
3. Japan
Japan is a very advanced country when it comes to quality education. She is known for having a complex philosophy of children's education, and students spend hundreds of hours to prepare for difficult exams. When it comes to scientific research, Japan is increasingly becoming one of the leading countries in the world. Tokyo University is included in the list of leading educational institutions in the world and is considered the best university in Asia. Japan's literacy rate is ninety-nine percent, one of the smartest nations in the world. The average IQ in Japan is 105.
2. South Korea
South Korea is the most “innovative” of all countries in the world. South Korean students show some of the best results in tests. The state spends a colossal amount of money on research and development. Among the population, a high percentage of people have a STEM degree, with more than 30 percent of adults having a degree in one of these advanced areas. It is believed that South Korea has the fastest and most reliable Internet in the world. However, their education system has one significant minus. As a result of difficult trials, long school hours and high competition, the country has a high suicide rate among schoolchildren and students. The average IQ in South Korea is 106.
1. Hong Kong
What is the smartest nation in the world? It turns out that the Chinese are leading! Purely technically, Hong Kong is not a country - it is a “special administrative region” in China. However, Hong Kong cannot be ignored, since millions of people with the highest IQ live in it. Hong Kong students win prizes at world olympiads in mathematics and science. Here is the best education system after Finland. Many students in Hong Kong attend extracurricular courses outside the institution to improve their education and future prospects. This craving for knowledge is quite surprising, however, it is obvious that the hard mental work of Hong Kong residents paid off in full. Their average IQ is 107.