IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is a widely recognized measure of cognitive ability, with the average score set around 100. An IQ score lower than 70 suggests an intellectual disability, while scores above 130 indicate high intellectual ability or talent. However, IQ scores can be influenced by a variety of factors, including socio-economic conditions, education, nutrition, and access to healthcare.
Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Average IQ Scores:
- Nepal – Average IQ: 43
- Nepal faces challenges such as poverty, under-resourced education systems, and political instability, compounded by natural disasters. These factors hinder cognitive development.
- Liberia – Average IQ: 45.07
- Years of civil unrest and poor healthcare systems have negatively impacted Liberia’s education and cognitive growth.
- Sierra Leone – Average IQ: 45.07
- Like Liberia, Sierra Leone’s low IQ scores can be attributed to inadequate healthcare, starvation, and a poorly funded education system.
- Guatemala – Average IQ: 47.72
- Guatemala struggles with high poverty rates, malnutrition, and limited access to quality education, especially in rural areas.
- The Gambia – Average IQ: 52.98
- Socio-economic difficulties such as malnutrition, poverty, and underfunded education systems contribute to the low IQ scores in The Gambia.
Other countries with low average IQ scores include Nicaragua (52.69), Guinea (53.48), Ghana (58.16), Ivory Coast (58.16), and South Sudan (58.16).
Factors Affecting IQ Scores
Socio-economic conditions, such as poverty, access to education, healthcare quality, and nutrition, play a significant role in determining cognitive abilities. It’s important to note that IQ tests, being largely Western-designed, may not fully capture other forms of intelligence across diverse cultures, raising questions about their global applicability and fairness.