The United States Ranked by IQ

16. Mississippi 94.2

Mississippi comes in last with an average IQ of 94.2. Perhaps it’s because the magnolia state’s poverty rate was listed at nearly 20 percent in 2020—a little higher than New Mexico’s. But that was pre-pandemic, so it most likely has risen since. Interesting fact, The state’s namesake is the Mississippi River, named by the Chippewa Indians—Mississippi means large river in their language. All in all, the southern states seem to do less well on average than the northern states.