The top ten countries with the most Mensa geniuses
Scandinavia cleans up in ranking of nations with highest recorded IQ per capita
Data released by Mensa, the world's largest and oldest IQ society, has revealed which nations boast the highest proportion of members.
Mensa International was founded in 1946 at Lincoln College, Oxford, to unite people of above-average intelligence from around the world in intellectual fellowship. Membership is only open to people with an IQ in the top two percent of the population. Its stated goals are "to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members".
The organisation ranks countries by the number of Mensa members it has per capita, to give an idea of where genius appears to be concentrated.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The findings come with a few important caveats. First, the data can only tell us the number of enrolled Mensa members in each country, not the number of citizens who would be eligible for membership. In countries where IQ testing fees and annual membership dues might be more prohibitive to the average citizen, or where awareness of the organisation is low, it is to be expected that fewer eligible individuals will be Mensa members.
Second, although the organisation's 120,000 members include individuals from more than 100 countries, only 51 of those nations have their own "national group", which keeps its own membership tally, within Mensa. So, of these national groups, which are the brainiest?
Finland takes the top spot, with 2,700 Mensa members out of a population of 5.4 million – meaning one in every 2,000 Finns is enrolled in the prestigious organisation – and Sweden follows in second place.
Brits will be pleased to note that the UK comes in an eminently respectable third place, with one Mensa member for every 2,868 people. Here are the top ten national groups:
1. Finland
2. Sweden
3. United Kingdom
4. Netherlands
5. Denmark
6. Ireland
7. Norway
8. Luxembourg
9. Czech Republic
10. Croatia
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Her Lotus Year: Paul French's new biography sets lurid rumours straight
The Week Recommends Wallis Simpson's year in China is less scandalous, but 'more interesting' than previously thought
By The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 21, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - wild cards, wild turkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Say Nothing: 'sensational' dramatisation of Patrick Radden Keefe's bestselling book
The Week Recommends The series is a 'powerful reminder' of the Troubles
By The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published