Yemen
The cognitive landscape in Yemen is difficult to measure accurately due to years of civil conflict, infrastructure collapse, and restricted access to education and healthcare.
Some studies show that the average IQ of Yemen is 93.03. Such a result is not bad for a country like Yemen facing social, economic, and educational challenges.
The children of Yemen have indeed shown high levels of linguistic and analytical capabilities under informal learning arrangements; there is, in fact, evidence of latent intellectual abilities, especially in the urban metropolises such as Sana'a.
With sustained investment in education, healthcare, and early childhood development, Yemen is able to gradually enhance national cognitive performance and overall IQ levels.
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Factors Influencing IQ Levels in Yemen
A mix of conflict, poverty, and limited schooling opportunities has made Yemen’s journey in nurturing young minds uniquely challenging.
Prolonged Armed Conflict
Years of civil war have largely devastated educational institutions, with destruction, takeovers of schools, and denial of access to formal education for millions of children. This protracted instability directly limits opportunities for cognitive development and hinders the growth of national IQ.
Access to Education
Even before the conflict, enrollment in schools was low, especially for girls. This is estimated to have resulted in 2 million children being out of school, thus limiting long-term intellectual development. Limited access to structured learning reduces exposure to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other skills measured in IQ assessments.
Emphasis on Oral Learning
Although this provides some intellectual development through conventional storytelling, Quran recitation, and group learning, there is a serious lack of formal education in academics. While oral traditions will maintain culture, they do not fully replace structured curricula that are necessary to develop such skills as reasoning, logic, and numeracy.
Lack of Trained Teachers
The shortages in teaching staff are still severe, especially in rural or war-affected areas where professionals have fled or been displaced. Without skilled educators, children cannot realize their full cognitive potential, which slows down national improvements in IQ over time.
How Yemen’s IQ Compares to Other Countries
While some reported IQ averages place it near the global average, real-world conditions like war, famine, and economic collapse paint a very different picture.
Countries with similar developmental and regional challenges, such as Sudan (85.7) and Nigeria (91.35), tend to have comparable national IQ levels due to limited access to quality education, healthcare deficits, and ongoing economic instability.
However, Yemen’s potential is significant.
The differences are narrow when comparing urban children with some access to schooling to those in stable middle-income countries. If Yemen sees long-term peace and investment in rebuilding education, healthcare, and nutrition systems, the national average IQ is expected to improve drastically over time.
How Yemen's IQ Compares to Its Neighboring Countries
Yemen’s average IQ of 93.03 is slightly below some of its immediate neighbors. Oman has an IQ of 94.08, and Saudi Arabia reports 93.95, placing both just above Yemen, likely due to better access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
In contrast, Somalia and Djibouti, to the south and east across the Gulf of Aden, have lower reported IQs, around 82–85, reflecting challenges in schooling, public health, and ongoing instability. Eritrea to the north also has a similar pattern, with IQ estimates around 82–84.
This regional perspective shows that Yemen is in the mid-range compared with its neighbors. Improvements in schooling, healthcare, and early childhood development could help Yemen gradually catch up to higher-performing countries in the Arabian Peninsula.
