Average IQ Denmark: Facts, Myths + Famous Danes w/ High IQs
The average IQ in Denmark is 97.83, which is on par with other Scandinavian countries, aside from Finland, whose score of 101.2 surpasses all its neighbors.
On the other hand, if we compare the Danish average to the average IQ in Europe, we can see that Denmark is among the more intelligent countries. The same goes for the average IQ in the world—although Denmark isn’t among the top ten nations with the highest IQs, it’s certainly up there on the list.
In fact, the average Danish IQ is 54.84 points higher than that of Nepal, which is considered the country with the lowest IQ in the world. That’s an impressive difference, although perhaps not surprising considering Denmark’s standard of living and quality of education.
What is IQ and how is it measured?
IQ stands for the intelligence quotient, a score derived from an IQ test. This score represents the level of cognitive development, typically measured using tasks that assess memory, attention span, concentration, and logical thinking.
To calculate the intelligence quotient, IQ tests compare a test taker’s performance to that of their peers and express it in a percentile. This percentile is transformed into a corresponding IQ score, usually ranging from 40 to 160 on the Stanford-Binet scale.
So, for example, when a test taker performs better than 91% of their peers, they belong to the 91st percentile. Transformed into a score, this equals an IQ of 120, which is considered superior intelligence.
Usually, psychologists use standardized IQ tests such as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, or Raven’s Progressive Matrices to calculate the intelligence quotient, primarily due to their accuracy.
However, any IQ test that uses tried-and-true psychometric methods can serve a similar purpose.
The history of IQ testing in Denmark
The history of IQ testing in Denmark began in the 20th century, around the same time when the first IQ tests spread from France to other Western countries.
However, IQ testing was officially introduced to Danish schools in the 1930s, at the height of the eugenic movement in Denmark. At the time, political parties and the Danish population became concerned about the “purity” of their race and decided they needed a way to separate the feebleminded from everyone else.
Luckily, this attitude prevailed only until the 1940s, when the growing number of children sent to special schools caused a pushback. Psychologists and politicians were then forced to reconsider their views on intelligence and admit that genetics wasn’t the only important factor.
So, when educational psychologist Thomas Sigsgaard published his revision of the Binet-Simon test in 1943, he acknowledged the role the environment played in determining intelligence. However, even his test sparked controversy, as did most IQ-related topics at the time.
Still, one thing is certain: IQ tests started many conversations about educational psychology and the role such psychologists may play in Danish schools.
Average IQ in the Denmark over time
Like in other developed countries, the average IQ in Denmark was under the influence of the Flynn effect, a steady increase in intelligence over time that amounts to 3.3 points per decade.
However, a reverse trend has been observed more recently—namely, scores seem to have declined between 1998 and 2003. Then, another study showed that they kept falling among military conscripts tested between 2006 and 2011.
However, the same study observed that the decline in IQ scores has also come to a halt. From 2011 to 2019, there haven’t been any significant changes in IQ—in fact, it seems that the averages have plateaued.
Facts and Myths about IQ in the Denmark
Here are some common myths about IQ in Denmark:
- Social welfare leads to decreased motivation and, consequently, lower IQ. The Danish welfare system provides a safety net to its citizens, which, according to some, makes people complacent and unmotivated to work on themselves.
- Danes live in a largely homogenous society, so their IQ levels are fairly similar, too. As a small country, Denmark is often considered culturally uniform, which leads to misconceptions about its citizens’ intelligence level.
Both myths are rooted in misconceptions about Danish society and intelligence in general.
While social welfare does ensure general equality and safety, it doesn’t promote complacency or low ambition. If anything, Danes have more freedom to explore their interests and develop various skills precisely because they don’t have to worry about their livelihoods as much.
Furthermore, even though most people in Denmark are indeed of Danish descent, they don’t necessarily have the same experiences, backgrounds, and education levels. As a result, their IQ scores may vary significantly despite their heritage.
4 factors contributing to IQ in Denmark
Factors contributing to the average IQ in Denmark include the country’s developed economy, high-quality lifelong education, universal healthcare, and a culture that values free and creative thinking.
Let’s examine these factors in more detail.
4 well-known Danes who have high IQs
Danish physicist Niels Bohr made crucial contributions to quantum theory and understanding of atomic structure, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922.
As an author, Andersen wrote plays, poems, novels, and travelogues, yet he is best remembered for fairy tales. Some of the most famous ones include “The Little Mermaid,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Ugly Duckling.
Chemist and physiologist Henrik Dam received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943 for discovering vitamin K and its role in the human body. He shared the award with his colleague Edward Doisy, an American biochemist who also contributed.
Widely considered the first existentialist, Kierkegaard is one of the best-known Danish philosophers. His works always emphasized the importance of choice, commitment, and reality over abstract thinking. Though he lived in the 19th century, his philosophy influenced many schools of thought in the 20th century.
Do you have a higher IQ than an average Dane? Take the test!
If you want to know how your intelligence compares to the average IQ in Denmark, take IQtest.net to find out. Using the latest psychometric methods, our professionally designed test will calculate your IQ with absolute precision.
Furthermore, IQtest.net is entirely free and available for frequent retaking. As a result, you can train your mental skills using its expertly designed tasks and track your progress through changes in your IQ score.
