17 States with the Lowest IQ Levels, Backed by Hard Data
The Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.) reflects the measure of someone’s cognitive expression compared to his age group and determines, to a large extent, his potential academic and professional success. Standardized tests are developed to determine how good someone is in logical reasoning, their ability to sequence patterns, and their problem-solving abilities, among other aspects of intelligence. Here are the 17 states with the lowest I.Q. levels.
Mississippi
Mississippi ranks lowest on this list of states—its average I.Q. score is 94.2. A recently released study from the Mississippi State Extension Service revealed that the state has a poverty rate of 19.5 percent and an 89.4 percent high school graduation rate, which means many socio-economic challenges also play a role in cognitive development and educational outcomes.
Louisiana
According to the Wisevoter, the state’s poverty rate is 19 percent, and its high school graduation rate is 82.6. These are the systemic problems of the educational and economic support systems.
California
California has a strong economy, but its average I.Q. is 97.1. The U.S. Census Bureau says 35.9 percent of its population has a bachelor’s degree. Despite high-income inequality, the state continues to experience disparities in educational access and outcomes and associated disparities in cognitive development.
New Mexico
World Population Review reveals New Mexico has an average I.Q. score of 95.0. Statista tells us the poverty rate is 18.2 percent, and the high school dropout rate is 8.5 percent. This means that many students in New Mexico don’t graduate high school.
Alabama
In Alabama, the average person scores 96.5 on the I.Q. test, with 2.9 percent unemployment and 16.2 percent poverty. The following factors stress that the state has insufficient developed resources to ensure educational and occupational opportunities to improve cognitive skills.
Nevada
The Nevada Independent reported The average I.Q. score for Nevada is 96.6 and has problems with education as 81 percent of high school graduates. The $65,168 per capita income of 2023 indicates that the state cannot provide enough economic resources to access numerous education spaces, fairness, and cognitive development for its citizens.
Arkansas
Arkansas has an I.Q. score of 97.1, a poverty rate of 12%, and a national education quality ranking of 43rd. These statistics speak to the detriment of systemic funds and access challenges regarding cognitive growth.
West Virginia
The average I.Q. score in West Virginia is 97.2; 91% of people have graduated high school, and 16.7% of West Virginia’s population lives below the poverty line. These indicators suggest that there is limited access to advanced educational resources that have a broad impact on cognitive development.
Kentucky
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (.gov) reports that Kentucky has an average I.Q. score of 98.8, 27.8 percent of its citizens hold a bachelor’s degree, and a 4.8 percent unemployment rate. For these reasons, education access and economic opportunities must be improved to improve cognitive outcomes.
Oklahoma
On average, Oklahomans living in poverty (15.9%) and who attended high school (87.80%) have an I.Q. of 98.2. These are systemic educational barriers that affect the development of cognitive and socio-economic progress.
South Carolina
South Carolina, with an average I.Q. score of 97.8, has a poverty rate of 13.9% and is 42nd in terms of the education system. These conditions impact cognitive growth, denying the state the ability to furnish quality educational resources.
Tennessee
Tennessee has an average I.Q. score of 98. The Sycamore Institute reports that the unemployment rate is at 13.3%, and limited access to higher education ranks it 31st in the U.S. out of the 50 states on the ranking of limited access to higher education.
Georgia
Georgia’s population has an average I.Q. score of 98.1, an 84.4% high school graduation rate, and 15.6 percent below the poverty line. This portrays a part of the socio-economic and educational support systems that affect cognitive growth.
Arizona
Arizona’s average I.Q. score is 98.3, ranking it 44th in education. Arizona abc15 estimates its poverty rate at 12.5%. Arizona is a deplorable state, and women and children are significantly affected. Families living on or near the poverty line often fight for necessities like food, housing, and healthcare.
Florida
The average I.Q. score in Florida is 98.3. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 32.3 percent of Florida residents over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher, so a fair number of Florida residents have a bachelor’s degree.
Texas
The average I.Q. score in Texas is 97.4, and the high school graduation rate is 93.5%, ranking it at 43 in education. This is 14.0% higher than the national average, and 5.1 million Texans lived in poverty in 2022. Among the states and the District of Columbia, Texas is tied with number 11 for poverty.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s average I.Q. score is 99.5. It has a 12.8 percent poverty rate and high-income inequality. More than 1.3 million people in North Carolina are living in poverty, which is defined as being at or below $31,200 for a family of four. North Carolina ranks 17th in the United States for its poverty rate.
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