Average IQ in Mauritania
Mauritania has an average IQ of 74, ranking #178 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below the global average on the worldwide scale.
Key Statistics
Education System in Mauritania
Mauritania provides bilingual education in Arabic and French. Traditional Koranic education complements the formal system, particularly in rural and nomadic communities.
IQ and Economic Development
Mauritania's GDP per capita of $6,030 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 4.7 average years of schooling and a 1.9% GDP investment in education, Mauritania has room to increase education investment relative to GDP.
Countries with Similar IQ Scores
Africa Rankings
| # | Country | Avg IQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mauritius | 92 |
| 2 | Morocco | 87 |
| 3 | Tunisia | 87 |
| 4 | Egypt | 86 |
| 5 | Algeria | 86 |
| 6 | Seychelles | 86 |
| 7 | Libya | 85 |
| 8 | South Africa | 84 |
| 9 | Nigeria | 84 |
| 10 | Madagascar | 84 |
Data Sources for Mauritania
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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