IQ Career Lab

Average IQ in Jamaica

Jamaica has an average IQ of 80, ranking #140 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below average on the worldwide scale.

80
Average IQ Score
Below Average (80–87) · Rank #140 of 195
Source: Lynn & Vanhanen (2012) (2012)

Key Statistics

Population
2,800,000
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$10,330
World Bank, 2023
Literacy Rate
88%
UNESCO, 2023
Human Development Index
0.709
UNDP, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling
9.7
Adults 25+
Education Expenditure
5.2%
% of GDP

Education System in Jamaica

Jamaica provides 6 years of compulsory primary education. The Common Entrance Exam determines secondary school placement. English is the medium of instruction.

IQ and Economic Development

Jamaica's GDP per capita of $10,330 reflects a developing economy. Research shows a moderate correlation (r ≈ 0.7) between national GDP and measured IQ, though this relationship is complex and bidirectional.

With 9.7 average years of schooling and a 5.2% GDP investment in education, Jamaica maintains a moderate investment in education.

Countries with Similar IQ Scores

North America Rankings

Data Sources for Jamaica

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

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