Wanderlust World Wanderlust World According to World Population Review (which compiles average IQ scores alongside educational attainment and Nobel laureates per capita), Japan ranks 13th globally in intelligence metrics.
The top of the list typically includes:
Important caveats: "Smartest country" rankings rely heavily on average IQ estimates, which are methodologically contested. They don't capture creativity, emotional intelligence, practical problem-solving, or the quality of education systems. Japan's high scores reflect strong performance on standardized tests and a culture that emphasizes academic rigor—but intelligence is far more multidimensional than any single ranking can show.