IQ Career Lab

Average IQ in Cape Verde

Cape Verde has an average IQ of 78, ranking #150 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below the global average on the worldwide scale.

78
Average IQ Score
Below 80 (Below 80) · Rank #150 of 195
Source: Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) (2012)

Key Statistics

Population
590,000
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$8,200
World Bank, 2023
Literacy Rate
87%
UNESCO, 2023
Human Development Index
0.662
UNDP, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling
6.3
Adults 25+
Education Expenditure
5.2%
% of GDP

Education System in Cape Verde

Cape Verde provides 8 years of compulsory education in Portuguese. The island nation has invested heavily in education since independence, achieving one of the highest literacy rates in West Africa.

IQ and Economic Development

Cape Verde's GDP per capita of $8,200 reflects a lower-income economy. Research shows a moderate correlation (r ≈ 0.7) between national GDP and measured IQ, though this relationship is complex and bidirectional.

With 6.3 average years of schooling and a 5.2% GDP investment in education, Cape Verde maintains a moderate investment in education.

Countries with Similar IQ Scores

Africa Rankings

Data Sources for Cape Verde

IQ Score:Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) (2012) — from "Intelligence: A Unifying Construct." Some estimates in this dataset may be imputed from educational achievement data rather than direct testing.
GDP & Education Spending:World Bank (2023)
HDI & Schooling:UNDP Human Development Report (2023–2024)
Literacy Rate:UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2023)
Population:UN World Population Prospects (2024)

National IQ estimates are approximate and based on meta-analyses of available cognitive testing data (Becker, 2019; Lynn & Vanhanen, 2012; World Population Review, 2025). These scores reflect measured test performance and are influenced by education, nutrition, healthcare, and socioeconomic factors — they do not measure innate intelligence. Within-country variation is much larger than between-country differences. IQ tests developed in Western contexts may not translate fairly across all cultures. Interpret with appropriate caution.

See the full methodology on our main IQ by Country page for complete source descriptions and data quality notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's your IQ?

Compare your score to Cape Verde's average of 78. Take our scientifically designed IQ assessment and get your exact score.

Free to start. No credit card required.

Stay updated