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Average IQ in India

India has an average IQ of 87, ranking #89 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below average on the worldwide scale.

87
Average IQ Score
Below Average (80–87) · Rank #89 of 195
Source: Becker (2019) (2019)

Key Statistics

Population
1,428,600,000
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$8,380
World Bank, 2023
Literacy Rate
77%
UNESCO, 2023
Human Development Index
0.644
UNDP, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling
6.7
Adults 25+
Education Expenditure
4.5%
% of GDP

Education System in India

India's education system follows a 5+3+3+4 structure under the National Education Policy 2020. The system has produced world-class institutions (IITs, IIMs) alongside significant rural-urban educational gaps.

Note: India's vast population and regional diversity mean national averages mask enormous within-country variation.

IQ and Economic Development

India's GDP per capita of $8,380 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 6.7 average years of schooling and a 4.5% GDP investment in education, India maintains a moderate investment in education.

Countries with Similar IQ Scores

Asia Rankings

Data Sources for India

IQ Score:Becker (2019) (2019) — from the NIQ Dataset v1.3.3, the most comprehensive meta-analysis of national cognitive testing studies.
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

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