US Presidents Ranked by IQ | Which President Had the Highest IQ?

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient, and the IQ test is a series of questions that are standardized and used by professionals and psychologists to make assessments of a person’s intelligence level. A higher IQ level not only makes you smarter but also gives you particular qualities that overall enhance your personality and make you successful.

The US president’s IQ levels have always been a topic of debate and discussion, and this is because people are always wondering which president of the US was the smartest and which one was the dumbest throughout history. In this article, we will look at the details and analysis of which president had the highest IQ and rank the US presidents according to their IQ levels.

Which President Had the Highest IQ?

Well, researchers indicated that most presidents fall somewhere around 135 IQ level. And for your information, I would like to tell you that a score of about 140 is considered genius. Several presidents of the US were geniuses of their time, but the one who has topped the list is John Quincy Adams, with an IQ level of 175.

John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and was known to be a successful politician, lawyer, attorney at law, and diplomat. His IQ was 175. He served the United States from 1825 to 1829 for four years.

He, according to historians, was the above average President who, during his reigning period, made historical changes in American history. He studied at Harvard University and is popularly known mainly for ending the 1812 war and settling the Treaty of Ghent.

US Presidents Ranked by IQ

Sr. #	US Presidents	IQ Scores
1	John Quincy Adams	175
2	Thomas Jefferson	160
3	John F.Kennedy	160
4	Bill Clinton	159
5	Jimmy Carter	156.8
6	James Madison	155
7	Johns Adams	155
8	Barack Obama	155
9	Franklin D.Roosevelt	150
10	Millard Fillmore	149
11	Franklin Pierce	147
12	Rutherford B.Hayes	146
13	Woodrow Wilson	145.1
14	Benjamin Harrison	145
15	Andrew Jackson	145
16	Donald Trump	145
17	Grover Cleveland	144
18	Theodore Roosevelt	143
19	George H.W.Bush	143
20	Chester A.Arthur	142
21	James A.Garfield	141.5
22	Abraham Lincoln	140
23	Lyndon B. Johnson	140
24	George Washington	140
25	George W. Bush	139
26	James Monroe	139
27	John Tyler	136.2

1. John Quincy Adams

• IQ Level: 175
• Ruling Time:1825 to 1829
• Profession: Politician, Diplomat, Attorney at law, Lawyer

John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the US who ruled the United States from 1825 to 1829. He was a well-known lawyer and politician mainly known for ending the 1812 war and settling the Treaty of Ghent. According to historians, John Quincy Adams was above the average president ever in the history of the US.

2. Thomas Jefferson

• IQ Level: 160
• Ruling Time: 1801 to 1809
• Profession: Statesman, Architect, Inventor, Author, Farmer

Thomas Jefferson is known to be the most influential person in the history of the US. He was a fantastic individual with an IQ level of 160. He loved education and was known to be a passionate architect and author.

Thomas Jefferson was the third president who ruled from 1801 to 1809. He was a well-known lawyer and politician and was known mainly for writing the Declaration of Independence at the early age of 30.

3. John F.Kennedy

• IQ Level: 160
• Ruling Time: 1960 to 1963
• Profession: Politician, Writer, Military, Author,

John F. Kennedy was another well-known politician in the history of the US. He had an IQ of 160 and was a prominent person who served in World War II.

Moreover, he was particularly famous for being the American president during the Cold War. Furthermore, John F. Kennedy is known to be one of the biggest supporters of the Women’s Equality Movement and notably served during the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.

4. Bill Clinton

• IQ Level: 159
• Ruling Time: 1993 to 2001
• Profession: Statesman, Politician, Author, Lawyer

Bill Clinton is another genius president in the history of the US, with a 159 IQ level. He was one of the most brilliant leaders in US presidential history. He was not only a lawyer but also a teacher of the law.

The president was a prominent figure in American politics and was known mainly for his Clinton Foundation and the initiatives he took for environmental protection. Throughout his presidency, he made significant accomplishments for Welfare Reforms and Economic Prosperity.

5. Jimmy Carter

• IQ Level: 156.8
• Ruling Time: 1977 to 1981
• Profession: Statesman, Politician, Military, Novelist

Jimmy Carter had a 156.8 IQ and was the 39th president of the US. He got the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 due to his dedication to Disease Prevention, Conflict Resolution and promoting democracy. He was also the founder of the Carter Center, an organization with an aim to advance human rights globally.

6. James Madison

• IQ Level: 155
• Ruling Time: 1809 to 1817
• Profession: Politician, Author, Lawyer

James Madison was another US president with a genius mind. He was a multi-talented person who not only was the president of the US but also was an American Statesman and philosopher. The president has a 155 IQ level and served the US as the fourth president from 1809 to 1817.

He played an important role in promoting and drafting the Constitution of the US and the US Bill of Rights, which made him a famous person in history. He was one of the most essential founding fathers of the US.

7. Johns Adams

• IQ Level: 155
• Ruling Time: 1797 to 1801
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

John Adams had an IQ level of 155 and was the second president in the history of the US who ruled from 1797 to 1801. He was a lawyer and a political theorist and was also known to be among the founding fathers of the US. He was a leader and had excellent leadership skills.

One of the significant accomplishments during his presidency was a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Hamilton’s opposition and public anger. Moreover, his administration is consistently ranked above average, according to historians.

8. Barack Obama

• IQ Level: 155
• Ruling Time: 2009 to 2017
• Profession: Politician, Author, Law professor, Lawyer, Writer

Barack Obama had an IQ level of 155 and has ruled the US from 2009 to 2017. He is a law professor, a writer, a politician and an author who is known mainly for signing the landmark bills into law.

His main reforms include the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Iran Nuclear Deal and the reopening of the embassy in Cuba. He is also known for being among the six world powers who struck a landmark nuclear deal with Iran.

9. Franklin D.Roosevelt

• IQ Level: 150
• Ruling Time: 1933 to 1945
• Profession: Politician, Soldier, Corporate Lawyer, Writer

Franklin D. Roosevelt is another genius president in the history of the US with a 150 IQ level. He was a politician, a soldier and a corporate lawyer.

Franklin had graduated from Harvard University, and his leadership is particularly famous for mobilizing the industrial sector and forming alliances to support the war effort because the country was suffering from the effects of World War II. During his reign, he ruled the US for 12 years and transformed American politics.

He was known for his courage and resilience in determination. The president came when the country was suffering from the great depression and World War II effects and gave the country a new boost and reforms to stabilize the economy and minimize unemployment.

10. Millard Fillmore

• IQ Level: 149
• Ruling Time: 1850 to 1853
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

Millard Fillmore was another superb US president who was the 13th president of the U.S. and ruled for three years from 1850 to 1853. He had an IQ level of 149 and is known for being one of the above-average politicians and lawyers.

Millard Fillmore, during his presidency, made several accomplishments and was an early champion of American commercial expansion in the Pacific. Moreover, he was the mind behind the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, which proved to be the base of the beginning of Japan’s transformation into a modern state.

11. Franklin Pierce

• IQ Level: 147
• Ruling Time: 1853 to 1857
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

Franklin Pierce had an IQ of 147 and was the 14th president of the US. He was a genius politician and lawyer during his time.

He was one of the least memorable US presidents according to scholars and historians because his presidency was not only the worst for the US administration but also was the time when the US failed to achieve any success. Although intelligent, he has not made any notable accomplishments during his presidency.

12. Rutherford B.Hayes

• IQ Level: 146
• Ruling Time: 1877 to 1881
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president of the US, who ruled from 1877 to 1881. He was a politician and a lawyer and served as an American representative and governor of Ohio.

He promoted Civil Service reform and was known to be the mastermind to restore popular faith in the presidency among the country’s people. He was known for resolving the great railroad strike of 1877.

This was the deadliest conflict between strikebreakers and workers throughout the history of America. He resolved the conflict by calling the US army against railroad workers.

13. Woodrow Wilson

• IQ Level: 145.1
• Ruling Time: 1913 to 1921
• Profession: Politician, Professor, Political scientist, Historian

Woodrow Wilson is the 28th president of the US, famous for being a professor, political scientist and historian. Woodrow Wilson is known for the nation’s economic policies and was the leading creator of the League of Nations after World War 1st. He also took several steps to give women the right to vote and made laws prohibiting child labour.

14. Benjamin Harrison

• IQ Level: 145
• Ruling Time: 1889 to 1893
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

Benjamin Harrison had an IQ of 145. He was the 23rd president of the US, who served the country from 1889 to 1893.

He served in the American Civil War and notably played his role in the first international conference of the American States, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and Sherman Antitrust Act. He is known to expand the American influence abroad.

15. Andrew Jackson

• IQ Level: 145
• Ruling Time: 1829 to 1837
• Profession: Prosecutor, Judge, Politician, Soldier

Andrew Jackson was a soldier, politician, judge and prosecutor who ruled the US from 1829 to 1837. He has an IQ level of 145 and is known to be the seventh president of the US. He signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and had noticeable roles in the battle of New Orleans, Bank War, Creek War, Circular Battle of Horseshoe Bend and Seminole wars.

16. Donald Trump

• IQ Level: 145
• Ruling Time: 2017 to 2021
• Profession: Businessperson, Television producer, Investor, Entrepreneur, Real estate entrepreneur

Donald Trump is a multi-telligent person who ruled from 2017 to 2021. He is the 45th president of the US, a well-known business person, television producer, entrepreneur, and investor.

Undoubtedly Donald Trump has a noticeable impact on American society that is undeniable because of his notable accomplishments and undeniable conflicts that the country has to face during his tenure. He also ended the North American Free Trade Agreement and replaced it with the United States Mexico-Canada agreement.

17. Grover Cleveland

• IQ Level: 144
• Ruling Time: 1885 to 1889, 1893 to 1897
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer

Grover Cleveland had an IQ of 144 and ruled the country twice. He was the 24th president and American politician and lawyer. He is the one who lowered the tariff rates.

He has done this by allowing the Wilson Gorman Tariff Act and making it as a law. Moreover, Grover Cleveland was the only president who left the white house and returned for a second time.

18. Theodore Roosevelt

• IQ Level: 143
• Ruling Time: 1901 to 1909
• Profession: Statesman, Politician, Historian, Conservationist, Police Officer

Theodore Roosevelt is 26th president of the US who was also a police officer and a well-known politician and historian. He promoted the Conservation Movement and particularly emphasized on using natural resources for the benefits of humankind.

He is known for expanding the systems of national forests and national parks. Moreover, he was a naturalist known to regulate food safety by establishing the food and drug administration. Moreover, he increased the regulatory power of the interested commerce commission by the Hepburn Act.

19. George H.W.Bush

• IQ Level: 143
• Ruling Time: 1989 to 1993
• Profession: Businessperson, Politician, Entrepreneur, Military aviator

George H.W.Bush had an IQ of 143 and was the 41st president of the US. He was a businessman by profession and entrepreneur and military aviator. He was committed to volunteerism and played an important role in leading a humanitarian response to natural disasters.

He played an important role in reunification of Germany and presided over the Gulf War and Invasion of Panama. He implemented the medicare part in 2003 and contributed to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 and 2008.

20. Chester A.Arthur

• IQ Level: 142
• Ruling Time: 1881-1885
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer, Teacher

Chester A.Arthur is another US president who had an IQ level of 142. He was a well-known politician, lawyer and teacher and known to veto the first version of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

He later on signed a second version that was a 10-year ban on Chinese immigrants to the US. Previously, it was a 20-year ban.

21. James A.Garfield

• IQ Level: 141.5
• Ruling Time: serving from March 1881 until his death the following September
• Profession: Politician, Lawyer, Teacher

James A.Garfield was the 20th president of the US who was a politician, a lawyer and teacher and served from 1881 to his death in the same year. The president is known to make several changes in US history and was the first sitting member of the house that was elected president. He had an IQ of 141.5 that makes him truly genius.

He served the country during the American Civil War and made several accomplishments including a purge of corruption in the post office. He even served in-house representatives and the union army before getting elected as the president.

22. Abraham Lincoln

• IQ Level: 140
• Ruling Time: 1861 to 1865
• Profession: Statesman, Politician, Lawyer

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the US between 1861 and 1865. He was a statesman and politician by profession and is known to lead the country through the American Civil War.

He played a major role in abolition of slavery and is known to expand the power of the federal government. Moreover, he is known to create the possibility of social freedom for African-Americans.

23. Lyndon B. Johnson

• IQ Level: 140
• Ruling Time: 1963 to 1969
• Profession: Politician, Teacher

Lyndon B. Johnson is another genius politician of the US who ruled between 1963 to 1969. He had an IQ of 140 and is known to be the youngest minority leader in senate history. He made noticeable accomplishments in the realm of civil rights and successfully advocated for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Moreover, he is known to create multiple social welfare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. He is among those presidents who are still well-known and popular in the history of the US Presidency.

24. George Washington

• IQ Level: 140
• Ruling Time: 1788-1789 and 1792
• Profession: Farmer, Politician, Soldier, Military Officer, Surveyor

George Washington was the very first president of the US who was also the commander in chief and among the founding fathers of the state. He has an IQ of 140 and was known to be the father of the country.

He was the member of Virginia House of Burgesses and also was known to serve during the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War. He was the leader who was responsible for the victory in the revolutionary war. Moreover, he also helped in the creation of the US constitution and is known to be the mind behind the plan of forming a new nation, the United States.

25. George W. Bush

• IQ Level: 139
• Ruling Time: 2001-2009
• Profession: Pilot, Businessperson, Politician, Public Speaker, Author

George W. Bush was the president of the US who ruled between 2001 to 2009. He is still alive and was the 43rd president of the US. He is also a well-known author who had an IQ level of 139 and his political career is overwhelmed with several accomplishments.

He signed the No Child Left Behind Act and took several steps in educational reforms of the US. He initiated the war on terrorism and also took steps for the reformation of the US education system.

26. James Monroe

• IQ Level: 139
• Ruling Time: 1817-1825
• Profession: Farmer, lawyer, politician

James Monroe is another well-known US president who served the country from 1817-1825. He is a prominent politician and lawyer famous for issuing the Monroe Doctrine.

He is known for his successful administration, particularly in Foreign Affairs, which mainly includes the acquisition of Florida. He also served in the Continental Army and maximized the sense of sectionalism and nationalism. Moreover, he is the President who left long-lasting impacts on US foreign relations.

27. John Tyler

• IQ Level: 136.2
• Ruling Time: 1841-1845
• Profession: Politician and lawyer

John Tyler is the 10th US President in US history known to have had multiple foreign policy achievements, including the Treaty of Wanghia and China and the Webster Ashburton Treaty. Moreover, John Tyler was the first President who faced a stalemate on domestic policy and had his veto of legislation overridden by Congress.

John Taylor strongly believed in manifest destiny and was famous for his administration and leadership skills. He also signed a joint resolution to Annex Texas. He was one of the most popular and renowned presidents who was responsible for bringing positive changes in the United States that not only were long-lasting but also very beneficial.

Final Thoughts

Undoubtedly all of the US presidents were smart and very intelligent. Having a higher IQ is a must for a president to have leadership and management skills to run the country smoothly. This is because he has to satisfy his people and get support from them.

Well, all of these presidents are historical figures with higher IQs but still some of them even have above 140 IQ level which makes them quite intelligent, smart, and genius. This above article tells you about a detailed analysis of the US presidents there IQ and the smart moves they have made in their reigning period.

You have to pay attention to the details above and the table that we have created so you can have an idea about which president was the smartest among all US presidents throughout their history. Moreover, make sure to focus on the description of each president so you can have an idea about how these presidents have used their minds and created their names in the famous and smartest people in the world.