The World's Smartest Countries 2023
Measuring intelligence on a national level can be a complex task, as there are multiple factors to consider. However, some organizations have developed intelligence quotient (IQ) tests and conducted studies that attempt to rank countries based on their average IQ scores. It's important to note that IQ tests are not a perfect measure of intelligence, and cultural, socioeconomic, and other factors can affect test scores.
What is the intelligence quotient?
The definition states that the intelligence quotient is a measure of intellectual ability. Often IQ is confused with a concrete performance or even education; however, it is the "ability" to perform. In other words, the ability for comprehension, combinations, and learning.
A person isn't less intelligent because of a lower level of education. Instead, the one who can achieve the same education with less effort is classified as more intelligent. For example, some intelligence tests detail questions on the names of current politicians. This determines how well the patient can remember a name and its position only by the influence of the media presence.
The intelligence quotient was adapted to a mean value of 100 points. For a standard deviation of 15%, an IQ between 85 and 115 should be noted as normal. Depending on the psychological and physical condition of the patient, the results can also vary by up to 10 points.
Intelligence is not a learning ability but can be consciously increased. Through regular brain training, individual skills are specifically addressed and achieved through a performance increase. Thus, the general thinking-ability can be influenced by each individual within a certain framework. However, this possibility decreases considerably with increasing age. Additionally, part of the intelligence is inherited by the mother and father.
Criticism:
West Europeans developed IQ for West Europeans according to West European standards. It is still debatable whether this procedure can be applied to people(s) with entirely different social structures, cultures, values, and ways of thinking.
The Flynn Effect
It can be observed that in western industrialized countries the IQ increases with the years. This effect, first discovered by James R. Flynn in 1984, was further researched in the following years and is observed in more studies today. It is assumed that there is an average annual increase of about 0.3 to 0.5 points. The increase is also faster for women than for men. In many countries, however, there is also a reverse Flynn effect, i.e. a decrease in the intelligence quotient.
IQ in relation to income and educational expenditures
As shown in the table above, there seems to be a correlation between IQ and income level. Although high-income countries are among the top performers, much lower-income countries, such as China, Mongolia, and Eastern European, are also among the top performers.
On the other hand, countries with high education expenditures almost always have an intelligent population. The reversing circuit is not always accurate because, among the first 30 places, there are also countries with medium-to-low educational expenditures. The leading countries in this ranking are exclusively the most developed East Asian countries. In these countries, it is usual for families to invest in their children’s education. The educational expenses are no less than elsewhere but are not caused or paid for by any government.
Is intelligence dependent on the climate?
Since 1991, relentless heat has been presumed to affect IQ over generations. It was initially assumed that living in lower temperatures required higher physical fitness and caused higher social demands. Richard Lynn, a professor at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, assumes that colder temperatures increase brain volume. But whether brain size is at all related to intelligence is controversial.
In general, a hot climate is considered a disadvantage intelligence development. Nowadays, the reason is primarily seen in the high physical energy demand and the resulting stress.
No dependence on skin color
None of the studies here conclude that a particular geographic ancestry influences the intelligence quotient. In some cases, differences within population groups were found (e.g., in Basil: Blacks 71, Mulatto 81, Whites 95, Japanese 99), but all differences could be attributed to their origin, level of education, or other factors.
In 2006, Donald Templera and Hiroko Arikawab found a connection between increasing skin pigmentation and a decreasing IQ. Even this was not attributable to skin color because pigmentation grade is climatically conditioned. The observations were also made within the same groups of other population, e.g., Caucasians.
