What is the average IQ in India?

The average IQ in India is approximately 87, based on Becker (2019) (2019). This ranks India #89 out of 195 countries in our dataset. This score is considered below average on the global scale.

How does India's IQ compare to other Asia countries?

India ranks among the higher-scoring countries in Asia. Other Asia countries with similar scores include Myanmar (87), Turkmenistan (87), Tajikistan (87).

What factors influence IQ scores in India?

Key factors include: education quality and access (6.7 average years of schooling), literacy rate (77%), economic development (GDP per capita of $8,380), healthcare access (HDI: 0.644), nutrition, and urbanization levels. These environmental factors significantly affect measured cognitive test performance.

Is the IQ score for India reliable?

The score of 87 is an estimate based on Becker (2019) (2019). Like all national IQ estimates, it has limitations including varying sample sizes, potential cultural test bias, and the fact that within-country variation is always much larger than between-country differences. It should be interpreted as a rough approximation, not a precise measurement.

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.

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

#	Country	Avg IQ
1	Singapore	108
2	Japan	106
3	South Korea	106
4	China	106
5	North Korea	102
6	Mongolia	101
7	Israel	100
8	Vietnam	99
9	Kazakhstan	96
10	Malaysia	95

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.