IQ 162 — How Rare It Is, What It Means & Famous People With This Score

Updated 2026-09-26 · Based on historical estimates and psychometric research

An IQ of 162 is higher than 99.9982% of people. About 1 in 55,900 people score 162 or above — about 150,000 people alive today. It sits 4.13 standard deviations above the average and is classed as exceptionally gifted.

Percentile99.9982th
How rare1 in 55,900
People alive with this score or higherabout 150,000 of 8.2 billion
Standard deviations above the average of 100+4.13
Classificationexceptionally gifted
Mensa (top 2%, 130 and above)qualifies

Is 162 a good IQ?

Yes. An IQ of 162 is higher than 99.9982% 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 162 or higher?

About 150,000 of the world’s 8.2 billion people, on the normal curve (average 100, standard deviation 15) used by modern tests.

Standard versions of the leading adult tests, the WAIS-IV and the Stanford–Binet 5, top out at 160. Scores above that come from old ratio formulas used on children, from extended norms or from extrapolation, so treat them as estimates, not measurements.

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162
Highly Gifted
About 1 in 55,900 (normal curve, SD 15; theoretical above 160)

What Does an IQ of 162 Mean?

An IQ of 162 places an individual far above the genius threshold of 140, in the realm classified as "Highly Gifted." This score is achieved by approximately 1 in 55,900 of the global population — making it exceptionally uncommon.

At this cognitive level, individuals typically demonstrate remarkable ability in abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving. Many of history's most influential scientists, mathematicians, artists, and philosophers are estimated to have had IQ scores in this range.

Classification
Highly Gifted
Percentile
99.9982%
Std. Deviations
+4.1σ
Rarity
~1 in 55,900

Where IQ 162 Falls on the Bell Curve

IQ 162 7085100115130145160175190

The highlighted area shows the percentage of the population scoring at or above IQ 162. The dashed line marks the exact position of this score on the normal distribution.

Famous People With an IQ of 162

There is 1 genius in our database with an estimated IQ of 162:

Lydia Sebastian
India · 2003

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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.

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