You’ve probably heard the number 100 tossed around. It’s the gold standard. The benchmark. Theoretically, the average iq of a person is always 100 because that's how the math is rigged. If everyone suddenly got smarter, psychologists would just move the goalposts to keep 100 in the center.
But lately, things are getting weird.
For almost a century, we were on a winning streak. Every decade, scores went up. This was the "Flynn Effect," named after researcher James Flynn. We had better food, better schools, and fewer kids dying of preventable diseases. We were literally outsmarting our ancestors. Then, around the mid-1990s, the engine stalled. In places like Norway, Denmark, and even the United States, scores started to dip.
Some call it "brain rot." Others blame the fact that we’ve outsourced our memories to the slab of glass in our pockets. Honestly? It's complicated.
Breaking Down the Average IQ of a Person
If you sat 100 random people in a room and gave them a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) test, about 68 of them would score between 85 and 115. That’s the "average" range. It’s where most of the world lives.
- 90 to 109: This is your "Average Joe" territory.
- 110 to 119: High Average. You’re likely the person people come to when they can’t figure out a spreadsheet.
- 120 to 129: Superior.
- 130+: Gifted. This is the top 2% of the population.
It’s easy to get obsessed with these numbers, but they’re just snapshots. A 2024 study from the University of Vienna looked at 20 years of data and found that while some scores are still rising, our "general intelligence"—the ability to link different types of logic together—is actually weakening. We’re becoming specialists who can’t see the forest for the trees.
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Where Does the World Stand in 2026?
Geography plays a massive, often controversial role in these stats. It isn't about "better" brains; it's about better environments. According to the latest 2025 and 2026 datasets from World Population Review and Intelpoint, East Asian nations continue to dominate the charts.
Japan and China are currently neck-and-neck, with Japan averaging around 106.48 and China hitting 107.19. These aren't just random spikes. These cultures pour resources into early childhood education and math literacy. Meanwhile, the United States sits around 97.43 to 99, depending on which study you trust.
| Region / State | Avg Score (Approx) | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 106.5 | Massive focus on STEM and disciplined study habits. |
| Massachusetts, USA | 104.3 | High density of universities and tech hubs. |
| United Kingdom | 99.7 | Stable, but seeing a slight "Flynn Reversal." |
| Global Average | ~89 | Reflects the struggle of developing nations with nutrition. |
The "Silicon Valley" Effect on Our Brains
There’s a growing concern among cognitive scientists about "cognitive offloading." Think about it. When was the last time you memorized a phone number? Or used a paper map?
A 2025 survey by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon found a disturbing trend: workers who rely heavily on AI assistants for critical thinking actually scored lower on independent reasoning tests after just one year. We are becoming incredibly efficient at finding answers but significantly worse at generating them.
The average iq of a person isn't just a biological destiny. It’s a muscle. If you stop lifting heavy mental weights, the muscle atrophies.
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Does a High IQ Actually Guarantee Success?
Short answer: No.
Lewis Terman, a psychologist at Stanford, spent decades tracking 1,500 "genius" kids with IQs over 150. He expected them to become the world's leaders. Some did. But many ended up as clerks, police officers, or lab technicians. He eventually admitted that "intelligence and achievement were far from perfectly correlated."
Success usually requires Conscientiousness—the ability to show up on time and do the work—and Emotional Intelligence (EQ). If you have a 140 IQ but can't read a room, you're going to struggle.
How to Protect Your Cognitive Health
You aren't stuck with the score you were born with. Research shows that environmental factors can swing your score by several points over a lifetime. If you want to stay on the right side of the bell curve, you've got to be proactive.
Stop passive consumption.
Endless scrolling through short-form video is like candy for the brain—it tastes good but has zero nutrients. Deep reading (physical books or long-form articles) forces your brain to build mental models.
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Watch the air you breathe.
This sounds like "granola" advice, but it's backed by hard science. A 2024 report linked high levels of PM2.5 air pollution to a measurable drop in verbal IQ scores in urban populations. Get a HEPA filter for your office. It matters more than you think.
Prioritize Sleep.
When you sleep, your brain’s glymphatic system literally flushes out metabolic waste. Chronic sleep deprivation can make a 110 IQ brain function like an 85 IQ brain.
Learn a New Skill (The Hard Way).
Don't just watch a tutorial. Actually struggle with a new language or a musical instrument. That "struggle" is the sound of neural pathways being forged.
The average iq of a person might be shifting globally, but your personal trajectory is still largely in your hands. Don't let the convenience of 2026 make you mentally soft. Stay curious, stay skeptical, and keep your brain working.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your "offloading": Identify one task this week (like navigating to a new place or doing basic math) that you usually give to your phone, and do it manually.
- Vary your reading: Commit to 20 minutes of "deep reading" from a physical book or a long-form essay every day to combat the attention fragmentation caused by social media.
- Check your environment: If you live in a high-traffic city, invest in an air purifier for your bedroom to mitigate the cognitive impact of fine particulate matter.