Richard Lynn's IQ Studies and the India EstimateRichard Lynn's work on national IQs, particularly in books like IQ and the Wealth of Nations (2002) and IQ and Global Inequality (2006), has been widely criticized for methodological flaws, including reliance on small, unrepresentative samples; selective data inclusion; and extrapolations from nearby countries. These studies assign India an average IQ of 81 (sometimes adjusted to 82 in later iterations), which is below the global mean of 100 (standardized to British/European norms). However, the data for India is based on a limited set of studies, often involving non-random samples that do not represent the country's diverse 1.4 billion population. Critics argue this leads to biased, underestimated figures, ignoring higher-scoring studies or broader socioeconomic factors like nutrition and education.Basis for India's IQ EstimateLynn's estimate for India is derived from 13 studies compiled between the 1970s and early 2000s, primarily using tests like Raven's Progressive Matrices (a non-verbal intelligence test) and other psychometric assessments. These were "measured" rather than estimated (unlike many other countries where Lynn extrapolated from neighbors like Pakistan). Key details:Sample Characteristics:Total Sample Size: Approximately 4,000–5,000 individuals across all studies (exact aggregate not always specified, but individual studies range from 50–1,000 participants).

Demographics: Mostly children and adolescents (ages 6–16), with some adult samples. Samples were often drawn from urban or school-based populations in northern/central India, skewing toward middle-class or educated groups. Rural, low-caste, or southern Indian populations were underrepresented.

Non-Representativeness: Many samples were "convenience" groups, such as school students in specific cities (e.g., Delhi or Mumbai) or participants in educational surveys. For example:Studies from the 1980s–1990s focused on schoolchildren, which may inflate scores due to selection bias (e.g., excluding dropouts or malnourished children).

No nationwide random sampling; instead, cherry-picked from available psychometric literature, ignoring contradictory data.

Specific Studies Cited by Lynn (Examples from His Compilations):Study/Author

Year

Sample Size

Test Used

Raw IQ (British Norm)

Notes

Singh (urban children)

1978

~200

Raven's Matrices

82

Delhi school students; urban bias.

Rama Murthy (rural/urban mix)

1980s

~150

Colored Progressive Matrices

78

Limited to Andhra Pradesh; small N.

Kumar (schoolchildren)

1990s

~300

Standard IQ batteries

84

Northern India focus; excludes tribal groups.

Aggregated (multiple)

2002–2006

~4,000 total

Various (e.g., WISC, Raven's)

81 (mean)

Averaged without weighting for sample size; some adjusted for Flynn effect (rising IQs over time).

These were standardized to a British IQ mean of 100 (SD=15). Lynn averaged them unweighted or lightly weighted by sample size, leading to critiques of over-reliance on outdated or elite samples.

Methodology Flaws Specific to India:Selective Inclusion: Lynn excluded higher-scoring studies (e.g., a 2015 Mensa India test of 4,000+ underprivileged children showing averages near 90–100) and focused on lower ones to fit his narrative. Blogs and critiques (e.g., raceandiqmyths.blogspot.com) document how he "contrived" data by ignoring rural-urban disparities or caste-based variations.

No Adjustment for Diversity: India's ethnic/linguistic diversity (e.g., higher scores in Kerala vs. Bihar) wasn't accounted for; samples were mostly Hindi-speaking northerners.

Environmental Bias: Scores likely reflect malnutrition, poor schooling, and poverty rather than innate ability—factors Lynn downplayed.

Later Updates: In Intelligence of Nations (2019, with David Becker), the estimate remained ~81, but with added scrutiny: only ~20% of samples were deemed "representative" by Becker's own quality index.

Criticisms and ValidityAcademic Consensus: Reviews (e.g., by Richard Nisbett, Jelte Wicherts) call the dataset "unfit for purpose" due to small/haphazard samples (often N<100) and bias toward lower scores in non-Western countries. A 2022 paper in Intelligence highlighted that 70%+ of Lynn's global samples are unrepresentative, with India's being particularly flawed.

Alternative Estimates: More robust studies (e.g., PISA/TIMSS math/science scores converted to IQ equivalents) suggest India's average is 85–95, closer to 90 when adjusted for urban/rural gaps. A 2024 Guardian report noted Elsevier reviewing Lynn's papers for retraction due to these issues.

Broader Context: Lynn's work has been linked to eugenics and racism; the European Human Behavior and Evolution Association condemned it in 2020.

In short, Lynn's India IQ of 81 is based on 13 flawed, small-scale studies of mostly urban schoolchildren from the 1970s–1990s, averaged without proper representation. It's not a reliable national metric but a product of selective, outdated data. For deeper dives, check Lynn & Vanhanen (2006) appendices or critiques like Wicherts et al. (2010).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346105)

The median IQ in Gaza is not directly measured in available studies, but IQ distributions are typically assumed to follow a normal (bell curve) pattern where the median aligns closely with the mean. The most comprehensive direct study of cognitive ability in Gaza—the 2015 standardization of the Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) test on 3,495 children and adolescents aged 8–18—yielded a mean British IQ of 67.9 (SD=12.3). This test, a non-verbal measure of general intelligence (g-factor), was administered under controlled conditions and normed against a UK reference of 100 (SD=15). Raw scores were converted to IQ equivalents, with adjustments for age and the Flynn effect (secular gains in test performance over time, estimated at ~3 points per decade in developed nations).

### Key Evidence and Context

- **Study Details**: Conducted in 2012–2013 by Bakhiet and Lynn, this is the largest IQ assessment specific to Gaza. Participants were school-attending youth from across the Strip, representing ~65% enrollment rates (higher than adult populations). Scores were consistent across genders and ages, with no significant differences. The mean of 67.9 places Gaza ~2.1 standard deviations below the UK norm.

- **Comparison to Broader Palestine**: Earlier studies averaged ~85 for Palestine overall (West Bank + Gaza), based on:

- 2011 Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) on 257 Gaza children aged 6–11.5: Mean IQ=85 (individual testing).

- 2009 PISA scores (math/science/reading for 15-year-olds): Equivalent IQ=83.3.

- Wechsler IQ of Arab Israelis (proxy for Palestinians): ~86.

Averaging these yields ~84.8 for Palestine, but the Gaza-specific SPM suggests lower performance in the Strip (~2 SD below West Bank estimates), likely due to blockade-related factors like restricted economic activity, higher poverty (GDP per capita ~$1,100 vs. West Bank's ~$3,700), and school disruptions.

- **Recent Influences**: Ongoing malnutrition and trauma exacerbate cognitive outcomes. In 2024–2025, ~20% of Gaza children under 5 showed acute malnutrition, linked to 5–10 point IQ deficits via impaired neural development. This could depress current means further, though no post-2023 IQ data exists.

### Limitations and Interpretation

IQ tests like SPM/CPM are culture-fair (non-verbal) but can underestimate in resource-scarce settings due to test unfamiliarity, motivation, or health. Richard Lynn's work, while data-driven, faces criticism for potential under-sampling in low-resource areas and overemphasis on genetics vs. environment (e.g., education quality explains ~50% of variance in cross-national IQ per meta-analyses). Gaza's score correlates with indicators like 45% youth illiteracy and high fertility (TFR=3.5), but improvements in nutrition/education could raise it 5–15 points over a generation, as seen in other developing regions.

| Region/Source | Test/Age Group | Sample Size | Mean IQ | Year |

|---------------|----------------|-------------|---------|------|

| Gaza (SPM) | 8–18 years | 3,495 | 67.9 | 2012–13 |

| Gaza (CPM, individual) | 6–11.5 years | 257 | 85 | 2011 |

| Palestine overall (PISA equiv.) | 15 years | ~5,000 | 83.3 | 2009 |

| Palestine (avg. of studies) | Various | Varies | 84.8 | Up to 2014 |

For adult IQ, extrapolate ~2–3 points lower due to cohort effects from chronic adversity. Overall, the evidence substantiates a Gaza median IQ around 68, far below global norms but reflective of systemic challenges rather than innate traits.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346109)

International IQ Test (Platform Data)

international-iq-test.com +1

2025

1,352,763 global test-takers (standardized online IQ test)

India: ~100 (ranks ~51st globally)

Self-selected online participants; likely urban/educated bias; stable from 2024 data (±2 points).

Worldwide IQ Test (Online Aggregation)

worldwide-iq-test.com

2025

Undisclosed (global test-takers; India-specific subset)

India: 99.39 (ranks 51st)

Similar online bias; shows bell curve distribution with India near global mean (100).

BRGHT IQ Test Data

brght.org

2024–2025

1,391,000 global test-takers

India: 101.11 (ranks ~101st)

Online platform; emphasizes multifaceted intelligence beyond tests.

India Education Review Survey

sjvpmbed.in

2022

12,000 students (metro areas; standardized assessments)

National avg. 90–95; Kerala highest (102), followed by Delhi/Tamil Nadu (~98–100)

Urban-focused; ties to education quality; rural gaps lower scores by 5–10 points.

Multiple Intelligences in Indian Children (PMC Study)

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

2018

1,065 schoolchildren (12–16 yrs; Raven's Matrices + Armstrong questionnaire)

Avg. IQ ~90–100 (logical/spatial focus); varies by domain (e.g., interpersonal higher)

Cross-sectional; urban/rural mix; first major study on Gardner's multiple intelligences in India.

Environmental Factors on IQ (PMC Multicenter Study)

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

2017

1,065 schoolchildren (12–16 yrs; Raven's Matrices)

Avg. IQ ~85–95; high IQ (>120) linked to urban residence, exercise, high family income/education

Shows environmental impact: rural/low-income lowers scores by 10–15 points; 40% malnourished kids affected.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346114)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346261)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346134)

its so furking retarded, the online samples that EVERYONE takes the same test everywhere are far more reliable

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346142)

rofl even higher:

The individual’s IQ is likely in the 125–130 range, placing them in the 95th–98th percentile (top 2–5% of the population).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346205)

So it's even lower in reality is what you're saying?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346813)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786049&forum_id=2)#49346911)