IQ 145 — How Rare It Is, What It Means & Famous People With This Score
An IQ of 145 is higher than 99.87% of people. About 1 in 741 people score 145 or above — about 11.1 million people alive today. It sits 3.00 standard deviations above the average and is classed as highly gifted.
| Percentile | 99.87th |
|---|---|
| How rare | 1 in 741 |
| People alive with this score or higher | about 11.1 million of 8.2 billion |
| Standard deviations above the average of 100 | +3.00 |
| Classification | highly gifted |
| Mensa (top 2%, 130 and above) | qualifies |
Is 145 a good IQ?
Yes. An IQ of 145 is higher than 99.87% of people. It clears the Mensa line: Mensa admits the top 2%, which is 130 or above on tests with a standard deviation of 15.
How many people have an IQ of 145 or higher?
About 11.1 million of the world’s 8.2 billion people, on the normal curve (average 100, standard deviation 15) used by modern tests.
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What Does an IQ of 145 Mean?
An IQ of 145 crosses the traditional "genius" threshold. Classified as "Gifted / Genius Level," this score is achieved by approximately 1 in 741 of the population. Individuals at this level typically excel in complex analytical thinking and creative endeavors.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →At 145, cognitive ability is well above the 99th percentile. People at this level often gravitate toward fields requiring deep abstract thought — theoretical physics, pure mathematics, philosophy, or groundbreaking creative work.
Where IQ 145 Falls on the Bell Curve
The highlighted area shows the percentage of the population scoring at or above IQ 145. The dashed line marks the exact position of this score on the normal distribution.
No geniuses in our database have an estimated IQ of exactly 145.
Explore geniuses with nearby IQ scores below, or browse all IQ rankings.
Explore Other IQ Scores
About IQ Scores: IQ (Intelligence Quotient) scores follow a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Historical IQ estimates for famous individuals are approximations based on their demonstrated achievements, not direct test results. These estimates should be considered illustrative rather than definitive.
Sources and method
Scores on this page use the deviation-IQ scale of the modern Wechsler and Stanford–Binet tests: mean 100, standard deviation 15. Percentiles and rarity figures are computed from the normal distribution. Published tests report full-scale scores only up to about 160 (the WAIS-IV range is 40 to 160), so rarity figures above that level are statistical, not measured.
- Pearson Assessments: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) — the deviation-IQ scale (mean 100, standard deviation 15) and the full-scale range of 40 to 160.
- Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales (overview) — the same mean-100, standard-deviation-15 scale on the Stanford–Binet.
- IQ classification (overview) — how test publishers label score bands.
- American Mensa: How to Join Mensa — admission at the top 2% (98th percentile) on an approved test.
- American Psychological Association: Intelligence — what intelligence tests measure.
- Normal distribution (overview) — the percentile and rarity arithmetic.
Method and sources updated 24 October 2026 · Geniuses.Club editorial team
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