Are nearly 50% of Americans of below average intelligence?

Question

I read somewhere that nearly 50% of Americans are of below average intelligence. That can't be true can it? I mean, look at some of their achievements- first man on the moon, Hoover Dam, etc.

So is this a false statistic? .. what do you reckon?

Answer 1

I have an IQ of 176.

That mean anything?

- 16 yo Pagan

Answer 2

If the average is what the statistician call MEDIAN, then it is the value which divides the population in two equal halves. Median intelligence level, if used as the average, will necessarily have 50%of the population with intelligence below that level and the remaining 50% above. If the distribution of intelligence in a population is symmetric (like the Normal distribution), then whatever the average used , 50% of population will be having intelligence below that level. If the distribution is not symmetric, the proportion of population below average could be different from 50% unless median is used as the average. If you are using the word "average" in a layman's way ( not as statisticians define it), your question does not have a clear "yes" or "no" answer. You will have to give a definite value to your idea of average intelligence before an answer can be given.

Answer 3

Someone important (I could look it up but can't be bothered) said: "There are lies, damned lies ... and statistics"

However, what is 'average'? It is the mid point where 50% are above it and 50% are below it. The 'average' IQ should be 100 but it's actually around 120. Go figure that one. Maybe it depends on the population of Arkansas ... who knows (and who can calculate the population of Arkansas, anyway? If they do it themselves, then it's anyone's guess.)

The other thing is that you say that you 'read somewhere' ... where? What was it made you give it credence? I mean it HAS to be wrong doesn't it ... look at some of their achievements ... Vietnam, Iraq, MacDonalds, Microsoft, chewing gum, traffic in Seattle, global warming ...

Answer 4

You would think that more than 50% are below average intelligence reading some of the questions on here.

Answer 5

This is true in ANY society! AVERAGE intelligence is the median intelligence. About half of any group will be above this line, about half will be below. If you take a group with IQ's between 140 and 180 (all genius level IQ's) than the AVERAGE intelligence is 160. Anyone in that group below 160 would be technically below average intelligence.

Answer 6

Not sure on this one but is not an IQ of 100 the average? If so would you not expect 50% of the population to be below this?

heavenlyhaggis

Answer 7

No false Statistics here, more Students are way below nowadays. USA was first in Educational Achievement, but it has rapidly declined over the Years.

Answer 8

Every country has 50% of its people with less than average intelligence. This is because 50% is the average, it's kind of obvious isn't it?

Answer 9

It is probably more than that! Can we have a source of your info, please? And I agree with some of the others here: the average is between 50% below and 50% higher, hence such "statistic" can be meaningless.

Answer 10

Well, you need some math help. about 50% should be below average and 50% above average. That's how averages work.

100% can't be above average.

Answer 11

I thinks it's more like 75%, or even more. As far as great achievements go, it's only the top 5-10% who perform at that level and take the rest of us with them. Think carefully at the bulk of population, when you break it up it's easy to see that most of us are pretty stupid.