IQ Career Lab

Average IQ in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe has an average IQ of 72, ranking #182 out of 195 countries globally. This is considered below the global average on the worldwide scale.

72
Average IQ Score
Below 80 (Below 80) · Rank #182 of 195
Source: World Population Review (2025) (2025)

Key Statistics

Population
230,000
GDP per Capita (PPP)
$4,560
World Bank, 2023
Literacy Rate
93%
UNESCO, 2023
Human Development Index
0.613
UNDP, 2023
Mean Years of Schooling
5.9
Adults 25+
Education Expenditure
5%
% of GDP

Education System in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe provides 6 years of compulsory education in Portuguese. The small island nation has relatively high literacy rates for the region.

IQ and Economic Development

São Tomé and Príncipe's GDP per capita of $4,560 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 5.9 average years of schooling and a 5% GDP investment in education, São Tomé and Príncipe maintains a moderate investment in education.

Countries with Similar IQ Scores

Africa Rankings

Data Sources for São Tomé and Príncipe

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.

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