IQ Career Lab

Average IQ in Palau

Palau has an average IQ of 84, ranking #120 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below average on the worldwide scale.

84
Average IQ Score
Below Average (80–87) · Rank #120 of 195
Source: World Population Review (2025) (2025)

Key Statistics

Population
18,000
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$14,600
World Bank, 2023
Literacy Rate
96%
UNESCO, 2023
Human Development Index
0.767
UNDP, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling
11.3
Adults 25+
Education Expenditure
6.8%
% of GDP

Education System in Palau

Palau provides education modeled on the American system in Palauan and English. A Compact of Free Association with the US supports education funding and university access.

IQ and Economic Development

Palau's GDP per capita of $14,600 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 11.3 average years of schooling and a 6.8% GDP investment in education, Palau invests heavily in its education system compared to global norms.

Countries with Similar IQ Scores

Oceania Rankings

Data Sources for Palau

IQ Score:World Population Review (2025) (2025) — aggregated estimate. Peer-reviewed primary sources were unavailable for this country; treat as a rougher approximation.
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

What's your IQ?

Compare your score to Palau's average of 84. Take our scientifically designed IQ assessment and get your exact score.

Free to start. No credit card required.

Stay updated