IQ over 150 and Membership in MENSA: An Analysis

There has been a popular inquiry regarding the percentage of individuals with an IQ over 150 who become members of MENSA. The challenge with such a question lies in the vast differences in IQ tests and the specific score required for MENSA membership.

IQ Tests and Their Relevance to MENSA Membership

It is important to understand that the threshold for MENSA membership varies depending on the IQ test used. For instance, the Wechsler IQ test, a widely recognized and popular measure, typically places individuals with an IQ score of around 134 in the 98th percentile, which is sufficient for MENSA membership. If your IQ test only reaches up to 150, as mentioned in some of the most common tests, achieving a score of 150 could place you at the 98th percentile, but it may not be enough to guarantee MENSA membership.

The Role of Specific IQ Scores in Mensa

The question of how many individuals with an IQ over 150 make it into MENSA is inherently complex. To gain insight into this, let's consider the Cattell IQ tests, which are known for their accuracy and reliability. When the author achieved a score of 153 on the Cattell IIIB test, which placed them at the 98th percentile, and a score of 140 on the Cattell Culture Fair test, which placed them at the 99th percentile, it highlights the variability in test scores even at the highest levels of intelligence.

Estimating the Number of Individuals with an IQ over 150 in MENSA

Based on the claim by MENSA that they have approximately 140,000 members worldwide, and assuming the global population is around 7.888 billion, we can make a rough estimate. According to MENSA's data, about 1 in 2,330 people have an IQ of 150 or higher. This implies that there should be approximately 3,381,975 individuals with an IQ of 150 worldwide. Given this large pool, and assuming only 0.5% of these individuals become MENSA members, MENSA would indeed consist of only a small fraction of those with an IQ of 150.

However, the accuracy of these figures depends on various factors, such as the strictness of MENSA's selection criteria and the global distribution of high-IQ individuals. Furthermore, since MENSA does not allow their assessment methods to be peer-reviewed, the validity of these numbers remains questionable.

The Significance of Mensa and Its Global Recognition

Mensa's global recognition is often overstated, as suggested by the author. By comparing the membership of any three of the football clubs in Sydney to that of Mensa, it becomes evident that Mensa's recognition is often exaggerated. This does not diminish the significance of earning a place in Mensa, but it does highlight the need for a balanced perspective on its global impact.

Estimating the Percentage of Mensa Members with an IQ over 150

Estimating the number of Mensa members with an IQ over 150 is a difficult task due to the sheer size of the potentially eligible population. However, based on the known distribution of IQ scores, we can make a reasonable guess. Assuming that half of Mensa members are in the 98th and 99th percentiles, and using the 99.6th percentile as a reference point for 140, we can infer that about 8% of Mensa members might fall into the 140 IQ range. This estimate, however, should be viewed as a rough approximation.

To summarize, while the exact percentage of Mensa members with an IQ over 150 is challenging to determine, it is evident that such a population is typically a very small fraction of the membership. Understanding the complexities of IQ testing and the specific criteria for Mensa membership sheds light on this intriguing question.

Keywords: IQ, MENSA, Intelligence