IQ Comparison Tool

Understanding IQ Score Comparisons

IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a standardized measure of cognitive ability scored on a scale where 100 represents the population average. The standard deviation is 15 points, meaning about 68% of people score between 85 and 115. Comparing your score to different reference groups (celebrities, professionals, or national averages) provides meaningful context for understanding where you fall on the distribution.

Our comparison tool draws from multiple data sources including Cox's landmark 1926 study of historical geniuses, Simonton's presidential IQ estimates, Wonderlic personnel test data for occupational averages, ETS graduate exam correlations for college majors, Becker's 2019 National IQ dataset for country-level estimates, and curated IQ data for fictional characters from popular media. Eight comparison categories offer different lenses for interpreting your score, from the rarefied air of Nobel laureates to the fun context of your favorite fictional characters.

How IQ Comparisons Work

When you enter your IQ score, the tool ranks you against our curated databases across eight comparison categories. For famous people, U.S. Presidents, and historical figures, we find the nearest matches to your score and show where you fall among well-known individuals. For fictional characters, we compare you to beloved characters from books, movies, TV shows, and video games. For professions and college majors, we compare your score to documented occupational and academic averages. For countries, we show how your score relates to national cognitive testing averages. And for test scores, we convert your IQ to equivalent SAT, ACT, GRE, Wonderlic, and AFQT scores.

Keep in mind that individual IQ scores are approximations, and group averages have wide distributions. A profession with an average IQ of 110 includes many individuals scoring above 130 and below 90. The comparisons are meant to provide interesting context, not definitive rankings. For deeper career insights, explore our Career-IQ Matcher to find roles that fit your cognitive profile.

Eight Ways to Compare Your IQ Score

• Famous People: Compare to 200+ modern celebrities and public figures, from Einstein and Elon Musk to athletes like Tom Brady and LeBron James. Each entry notes whether the IQ score is verified or estimated.
• U.S. Presidents: See how your IQ stacks up against all 46 presidents, from John Quincy Adams (estimated IQ 175) to modern leaders. Based on Simonton's published historiometric research.
• Historical Figures: Compare across five eras from Ancient Greece to the Industrial Revolution. See where you rank among Leonardo da Vinci, Newton, Cleopatra, and Marie Curie.
• Professions: Explore average IQ by occupation across 10 categories including STEM, healthcare, law, skilled trades, and athletics. Data from Wonderlic and occupational studies. For detailed profiles on individual careers, see our IQ by Profession tool.
• College Majors: Compare to average IQ by academic field, from physics (133) to early childhood education (100). Based on ETS GRE score correlations.
• Countries: See how your score compares to national averages across 200+ countries and six continents. For detailed country profiles, visit our IQ by Country interactive map.
• Fictional Characters: A fun comparison to characters from literature, film, TV, comics, animation, and video games, from Rick Sanchez (300) to Patrick Star (30).
• Test Score Equivalents: Convert your IQ to approximate SAT, ACT, GRE, Wonderlic, and AFQT scores. See which high-IQ society milestones you qualify for, from Mensa to the Mega Society.

IQ Score Chart & Percentiles

Understanding where your IQ score falls on the bell curve is essential for meaningful comparisons. Here's how IQ scores map to population percentiles and classifications:

These classifications follow the Wechsler scale (standard deviation of 15), which is the most widely used system worldwide. For a complete reference, see our full IQ percentile table.

Frequently Asked Questions