Average IQ score by age chart
How smart are you compared to your peers in the same age group? Take a look at our ranking of average IQ by age to find out.
| Rank | Age | Avg IQ |
| #1 |  Over 65 years old | 114 |
| #2 |  55-64 year-olds | 109 |
| #3 |  16-17 year-olds | 108 |
| #4 |  45-54 year-olds | 106 |
| #5 |  18-19 year-olds | 105 |
| #6 |  35-44 year-olds | 101 |
| #7 |  20-24 year-olds | 99 |
| #8 |  25-34 year-olds | 97 |
| #9 |  Under 16 years old | 35 |
What is IQ?
IQ is a score derived from an IQ test that measures how developed your cognitive abilities are, including your working memory, processing speed, pattern recognition, and analytical and deductive reasoning.
The intelligence quotient (IQ) is the most widely accepted method for measuring intelligence. IQ tests are often used in schools to determine each student’s mental capacity, as well as in the job application process to decide which candidate suits the position the best.
IQ tests measure the so-called general intelligence, or g-factor. General intelligence consists of two crucial aspects: fluid intelligence, which encompasses reasoning and abstract thinking, and crystallized intelligence, which refers to accumulated knowledge and experience.
How is IQ measured?
IQ is measured by comparing the test-taker's performance on a standardized IQ test to that of their peers in the same age range. The performance is expressed in percentages first and then transformed into a corresponding IQ score.
Psychometricians use the following tests to measure IQ:
- Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. The oldest IQ test was developed in 1916, but it implemented a more modern approach to intelligence in the meantime.
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. This is the most popular IQ test administered to adults and measures a wide range of skills and subsets that make up intelligence.
- Raven’s Progressive Matrices. This test attempts to control for cultural influence by including exclusively non-verbal tasks.
The average IQ: explained
The average IQ in the world is 100, but since 68% of the population falls within the range of 85–115, this span is more frequently considered normal intelligence.
If a test taker gets precisely 100 on an IQ test, that means they’ve done as well as 50% of their peer group, or, in other words, they belong to the 50th percentile. The higher the percentile, the higher the IQ, and vice versa.
On the right is a table to illustrate what an IQ scale actually looks like, according to the Stanford-Binet.
The average IQ by age groups
The average IQ by age is difficult to determine, as each individual is only compared to their peers without any crossovers.
However, it’s possible to approximate the average IQ by age for adults, adolescents, and children. You will find some of these approximations, covering average IQ by age, both for men and women, below.
Top 3 factors that influence your IQ
Factors that influence IQ and determine how developed an individual’s cognitive abilities are include genetics, education, and nutrition.
Education in particular makes a big difference for the older age groups—though their cognitive skills are on the decline, their knowledge can make up for it and keep their IQ scores high.
GeneticsResearch conducted on children in adoptive families concluded that genetics are the most important factor in determining IQ, regardless of how young the children were when adopted.
EducationEducation is crucial for cognitive development: it feeds the brain new information that improves crystallized intelligence and increases problem-solving skills, which also boost fluid intelligence.
NutritionWithout sufficient nutrients, the brain can’t develop and function to its full capacity, which is why nutrition is key to a sharp mind and high IQ scores.
Curious about your IQ score?
See how your intelligence ranks compared to your age group by taking our official IQ test!
