Dumbest States 2022 - World Population Review

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Agriculture 200

Sample topics: Peach Production, Cattle Population, Fishing Industry, Cotton Production

Crime/Safety 85

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Culture 561

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Economics 386

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Education 85

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Environment 244

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Facts/Trivia 258

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Flags 27

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Geography 224

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Health 322

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History 77

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Infrastructure/Energy 105

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Law 549

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Manufacturing/Mining 100

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Military 51

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Politics/Government 363

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Population 339

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Sports 72

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Tech/Business 251

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Travel 85

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Dumbest States in the United States 2025
Factors that Affect Educational Attainment
Determining the Intelligence of Each State
Top 10 Dumbest States in the United States
Sources

Education > Dumbest States in the United States 2025 Best/Worst Dumbest States in the United States 2025

Dumbest States (Guru99)

40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58

Dumbest States (Guru99) 2024↑	Average IQ Score	Dumbest States (Penn Stakes) 2022
New Mexico	40.5	95.7	20.4
Texas	41.5	100.0	23.9
Mississippi	41.7	94.2	13.3
Louisiana	42.4	95.3	15.2
West Virginia	42.4	98.7	12.6
Alabama	43	95.7	22.4
Oklahoma	43.4	99.3	22.4
South Carolina	43.7	98.4	28.0
California	43.8	95.5	40.0
Georgia	43.8	98.0	40.2
Arkansas	44.1	97.5	19.1
Kentucky	44.4	99.4	30.5
Florida	44.5	98.4	32.4
Arizona	44.6	97.4	35.9
Rhode Island	45	99.5	50.5
Colorado	50.6	101.6	69.4
Nebraska	50.7	102.3	57.8
Washington	51.4	101.9	60.3
Massachusetts	51.8	104.3	93.9
Iowa	52	103.2	46.2
Utah	52.2	101.1	55.5
Wisconsin	52.5	102.9	48.5
South Dakota	52.6	102.8	43.1
Maine	53.8	103.4	55.8
North Dakota	54.4	103.8	48.4
Montana	54.6	103.4	51.9
Vermont	54.9	103.8	72.2
Wyoming	55	102.4	49.3
Minnesota	55.8	103.7	67.0
New Hampshire	56.8	104.2	70.5
Alaska	99.0	43.1
Connecticut	103.1	73.8
Delaware	100.4	46.8
Hawaii	95.6	43.1
Idaho	101.4	36.8
Illinois	99.9	51.4
Indiana	101.7	36.8
Kansas	102.8	55.5
Maryland	99.7	72.8
Michigan	100.5	43.8
Missouri	101.0	45.0
Nevada	96.5	20.0
New Jersey	102.8	69.5
New York	100.7	57.8
North Carolina	100.2	40.7
Ohio	101.8	46.7
Oregon	101.2	52.0
Pennsylvania	101.5	52.4
Tennessee	97.7	34.2
Virginia	101.9	72.5
United States	100.3

Research by free online education platform Guru99.com analyzed six different metrics: average IQ, graduation rates, percentage of the population with low literacy rates, average SAT scores, % of the states that don’t have a high school diploma or GED and GDP per capita. These were then given a score out of 10 and combined to give a total score of 60.
The Penn Stakes measure of state-level intelligence compiles several intelligence- and education-based metrics: average IQ score; the percentage of a state’s population with a high school diploma, bachelor’s, or advanced degree; and SAT and ACT scores. Higher scores are preferable.
2024 Guru99 data were unavailable for states ranked lower than the top 15 but higher than the bottom 15 (16-35).

The United States is a large country with hundreds of millions of people.

Factors that Affect Educational Attainment

It’s important to know that income has an enormous impact on educational data. States with high numbers of lower-income families generally have lower-quality education systems and fewer people who can attend college. Here are other factors that may affect students’ academic achievement that could vary by state and within states: overall socioeconomic status of the state or city/area within the state, percentage of students who are learning English as a second language, class and curriculum structure, which is usually mandated by the state, norms and regulations that determine the school environment, and standard testing requirements. On an individual level, the following can also affect student performance: parental habits and involvement, family issues and instability, peer relationships, teacher behavior and personality, focusing on the holistic needs of students, and teaching methods.

Determining the Intelligence of Each State

The intelligence of each state can be ranked using the following measures: IQ scores, SAT scores, ACT scores, and the percentage of college graduates in each state. An intelligence score is created for each state by determining the percentage-point difference between a state’s score and the national median score. Positive scores mean that the state’s score was above the national median and negative scores indicate that the state’s score was below. IQ’s value was doubled when the scores were added up for each state.

Top 10 Dumbest States in the United States

While the data does show that some states are “dumber” than other states, no one should demonize the people of another state based on these findings. Some states get a worse rap than others and can generate some stereotypes. It is encouraged that you be kind. Every state has its intelligence, natural beauty, and other great qualities.

The ten dumbest states in the United States are Hawaii, Nevada, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Arizona. Of the ten dumbest states, seven are located in the South. Hawaii might come as a surprise to some, while Florida may be expected because of the notorious “Florida man” stories. Read information about the best and worst states for education and the most and least educated states.