Rapid IQ increase – what's happening in South Korea?

IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a measure of a person's cognitive abilities and potential. The residents of South Korea have consistently scored highly on international IQ tests, and over the last few years, the average IQ score has rapidly been getting higher.

The Intelligence of Nations

The Intelligence of Nations is a trusted publication that has estimated the average IQ of countries around the world for a number of years. In 2019, South Korea was ranked 6th (with an average IQ of 102.35), which in itself is impressive.

However, in June 2022, South Korea was ranked 4th (with an average IQ of 111.30) according to a new study by a Finnish enterprise Wiqtcom Inc. The data is always "live," and the snapshot below was taken on June 5th, 2022.

This study is continuously conducted through the Worldwide IQ test, an online test that is free from cultural bias and fair for all nationalities. Data has been collected since 2019 by Wiqtcom Inc, and the results show many interesting facts.

The growth in IQ in South Korea is exceptional, even when compared to nearby countries. Taiwan is the current leader with an average IQ of 113.45, up from 106.47, which is an increase of around 7.0 IQ points. Japan currently has an average IQ of 112.65, up from 106.49, which is an increase of around 6.2 IQ points.

While these are impressive increases, the average in South Korea has increased by 9.0 points in the same period of time. This makes it one of the fastest-growing average IQs in the world.

If the increase in IQ continues on the same trajectory in each country, how long will it take for South Korea to surpass Taiwan and Japan? In our estimation, it could be as little as two years.

Why is IQ increasing in South Korea at such a rapid rate?

There are many possible explanations for why the average IQ score is rising so rapidly in South Korea.

One possibility is that the education system is becoming more effective at teaching children critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Another possibility is that the country is developing as a whole, and with the success of Korean exports around the world, many younger people now have much higher aspirations than any previous generation.

South Korea is known for its expertise in industries including information technology (Samsung, LG Electronics), robotics (Hyundai Robotics, Naver Labs, Yujin Robot), microchip technology (Samsung, Park Systems), and the vehicle industry (Kia, Hyundai, and SsangYong Musso are known around the world for the cars they produce).

Could it be that the high IQs in South Korea are a result of the country's economic success?

It's hard to say for sure, but one thing is certain - the people of South Korea are getting smarter, and they are doing it at an exceptional rate.

Add to this the infiltration of South Korean culture into the popular consciousness with K-pop, including music hits from BTS and the Gangnam Style phenomenon that erupted around Psy (the first video on YouTube to exceed one billion views, and now with more than 4 billion views overall), it's no wonder that people are taking notice of South Korea's many successes, and that South Korean's are striving for even more.

More data is needed!

The only way to show a true average IQ for any country is for as many tests to be completed as possible. The more tests that are taken, the more comprehensive and accurate the overall results will be.

To facilitate this, we need as many people as possible to take an IQ test here. The test is culture-fair, and there is no need for prior knowledge of any event, equation, or information. This gives the best opportunity to understand the innate intelligence and problem-solving skills of an individual rather than the acquired intelligence that directly comes from learning facts and figures.

Some nations have only completed a relatively small number of tests which can give a misleading outcome - for us, accuracy is everything. As more tests are completed, the average score for each country will become more accurate, and we will be able to get a better understanding of where each country stands in comparison to the others.

For educational facilities, we offer an academic cooperation program that makes it simple and easy to arrange testing for your students.

We also offer an affiliate program for influencers who can promote the worldwide IQ test. Our goal is to analyze the intelligence of every country on the planet.

Will South Korea soon hit the number one position on the table of most intelligent countries in the world? With your help, we can find out together.