IQ 170 — How Rare It Is, What It Means & Famous People With This Score
Is 170 a good IQ? It is exceptional. A 170 is higher than 99.99985% of people, about 1 in 653,000. On the normal curve that is roughly 13,000 of the 8.2 billion alive, far above Mensa’s entry line of 130. Standard adult tests top out at 160, so a 170 is an extended-norm score or an estimate.
| Percentile | 99.99985th |
|---|---|
| How rare | 1 in 653,000 |
| People alive with this score or higher | about 13,000 of 8.2 billion |
| Standard deviations above the average of 100 | +4.67 |
| Classification | exceptionally gifted |
| Mensa (top 2%, 130 and above) | qualifies |
Is 170 a good IQ?
Yes. An IQ of 170 is higher than 99.99985% 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 170 or higher?
About 13,000 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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Take the IQ test →What Does an IQ of 170 Mean?
An IQ of 170 places an individual far above the genius threshold of 140, in the realm classified as "Exceptionally Gifted." This score is achieved by approximately 1 in 653,000 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.
Where IQ 170 Falls on the Bell Curve
The highlighted area shows the percentage of the population scoring at or above IQ 170. 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 170.
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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