Average IQ in North Korea
North Korea has an average IQ of 102, ranking #15 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered high on the worldwide scale.
Key Statistics
Education System in North Korea
North Korea mandates 12 years of free compulsory education with a heavy emphasis on science, mathematics, and ideological instruction. Claims near-universal literacy.
Note: Extremely limited independent data. Estimates extrapolated from South Korean and regional data. Economic indicators are rough approximations due to state secrecy.
IQ and Economic Development
North Korea's GDP per capita of $1,800 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 11 average years of schooling and a 6.4% GDP investment in education, North Korea invests heavily in its education system compared to global norms.
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Countries with Similar IQ Scores
Asia Rankings
| # | Country | Avg IQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 108 |
| 2 | Japan | 106 |
| 3 | South Korea | 106 |
| 4 | China | 106 |
| 5 | Mongolia | 101 |
| 6 | Israel | 100 |
| 7 | Vietnam | 99 |
| 8 | Kazakhstan | 96 |
| 9 | Malaysia | 95 |
| 10 | Georgia | 94 |
Data Sources for North Korea
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
See where your own score lands.
North Korea's average is an estimate from limited data. Your own number is something you can measure: take the free 50-question IQ test for your exact score and where you land against every country on this map.