Intelligence is one of the most fascinating human traits. It allows us to learn, solve problems, and create new things. But do you know who the people with the highest IQs in the world are?
IQ tests are widely used to measure a person’s intelligence level, where only 2.5% of the world’s population has an above-average IQ.
So, continue in this exclusive guide from Insight Factory and see who holds the highest IQs in the world, to try to understand how the minds of these special and gifted individuals work!
How are IQ tests conducted?
IQ tests are designed to measure human intelligence. They usually consist of a series of tasks that assess different cognitive abilities, such as verbal reasoning, mathematical reasoning, memory, visual-spatial understanding, and problem-solving.
These tests are standardized so that scores can be compared among people of different ages and backgrounds.
The average score for an adult is 100. From there, the scores are distributed on a normal curve, with 68% of people scoring between 85 and 115. However, only 2.5% of people have an IQ above 130, considered gifted.
Who are the people with the highest IQs in the world?
Check out the list of the three people considered the most intelligent in the world, with IQ test scores to admire!
Terence Tao
The Australian Terence Tao is considered one of the brightest minds today. He is a mathematician who has received several awards, including the Fields Medal, considered the Nobel Prize of mathematics. His IQ is 230.
Tao was born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1975. He began to show his talent for mathematics early on. At 10, he had already learned differential and integral calculus. At 13, he was accepted into the University of Melbourne, where he graduated at the age of 16.
It is worth noting that Tao specializes in number theory, mathematical analysis, and geometry. His research has had a significant impact in several areas of mathematics, including physics, computer science, and engineering.
Marilyn vos Savant
The American Marilyn vos Savant is another person with a very high IQ. She is a writer, columnist, and speaker.
vos Savant was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1946. She was diagnosed with autism at the age of 10. At 16, she was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the woman with the highest IQ in the world, with a score of 228.
vos Savant is the author of several books, including “Brain Building” and “The World’s Most Famous IQ Test.” She also has a column in Parade magazine, where she answers her readers’ questions about science, philosophy, and other subjects.
Christopher Hirata
The American Christopher Hirata is an astrophysicist who also has a very high IQ (estimated at 225). He specializes in cosmology and particle physics.
Hirata was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1982. He began studying physics at the age of 10. At 13, he won the gold medal at the International Physics Olympiad, becoming the youngest winner of the competition.
Hirata graduated in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, at the age of 16. He then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Ph.D. in cosmology at 22.
Hirata is the author of several books, including “The Cosmic Landscape” and “The Next Hundred Years.” He is also a researcher at the California Institute of Technology.
Did you enjoy learning about the people with the highest IQs in the world?
Intelligence is a complex phenomenon that is still not fully understood. However, people with high IQs have shown exceptional talent for learning about the world.
These brilliant minds are the result of much dedication, study, and of course genius, as it is believed that many of the gifted are born with high IQs!