Report: The Nation’s IQ Drop Since 2010 and Its Implications for Education
A recent article published on March 19, 2023, by Northwestern Now, titled “Americans’ IQ scores are lower in some areas, higher in one,” highlights a concerning trend: the United States has experienced a decline in IQ scores since 2010, marking a reversal of the long-standing Flynn Effect. This drop, observed across multiple cognitive domains, points to a deeper educational problem that threatens the nation’s ability to foster critical thinking and maintain its global standing. As a liberty-minded advocate, I’ll examine this trend, its implications for education, and how it aligns with the need for a system that prioritizes individual freedom and independent thought over government-driven standardization.
The IQ Decline: A Break from the Flynn Effect
The Flynn Effect, named after James Flynn, describes the steady rise in IQ scores observed throughout the 20th century, with an average increase of 3 to 5 points per decade from 1932 to 2000. This upward trend was attributed to improvements in education, nutrition, and healthcare, reflecting a society that was growing more capable of problem-solving and abstract thinking. However, the Northwestern study, conducted by researchers Elizabeth Dworak, William Revelle, and David Condon, analyzed online IQ tests from the Synthetic Aperture Personality Assessment Project (SAPA) taken by nearly 400,000 Americans between 2006 and 2018. Their findings reveal a “reverse Flynn Effect”—a decline in IQ scores across three out of four cognitive domains: verbal reasoning (logic, vocabulary), matrix reasoning (visual problem-solving, analogies), and letter/number series (computational/mathematical skills). The only area showing improvement was spatial reasoning (3D rotation), which increased from 2011 to 2018.
The steepest declines were among younger participants, particularly those aged 18 to 22, and individuals with lower levels of education. While the study doesn’t quantify the exact drop, other research provides context: a 2018 study in Norway reported a 5-point IQ decline over a generation, and similar trends have been observed in Finland (2 points from 1997 to 2009) and France (3.8 points from 1999 to 2009). In the U.S., the decline is significant enough to raise alarms, especially since it breaks a century-long pattern of cognitive growth.
The Educational Problem: A System Failing to Foster Critical Thinking
This IQ drop isn’t just a statistical blip—it’s a symptom of a deeper educational crisis. The U.S. education system, increasingly driven by federal mandates and standardized testing, has prioritized rote memorization over critical thinking, stifling the very skills needed for intellectual growth. Verbal reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical skills—the domains showing the steepest declines—are foundational to critical thinking, yet they’ve been deprioritized in favor of test prep. A 2023 study from the National Association of Scholars found that 60% of U.S. high school curricula now focus on standardized test preparation, reducing time for inquiry-based learning by 40% since 2000. This shift aligns with the IQ decline timeline, suggesting that an overemphasis on testing may be eroding cognitive development.
The decline is particularly pronounced among younger and less-educated individuals, pointing to disparities in educational access and quality. States with lower socioeconomic status—like New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi—consistently rank at the bottom for IQ (averaging 95–96, per World Population Review, 2024) and educational outcomes (U.S. News, 2023). These states often have higher poverty rates (e.g., Mississippi at 19.6%, U.S. Census, 2023) and lower per-pupil spending ($9,000 vs. the national average of $14,000, NCES, 2023), which limits access to quality education. Meanwhile, states like New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with higher IQ averages (103.2 and 102.8, respectively) and better-funded schools ($20,000 per pupil), show stronger outcomes, but even they aren’t immune to the national trend.
Environmental factors also play a role. Experts like Hetty Roessingh (University of Calgary) argue that technology—smartphones, social media, and streaming platforms—has displaced time for activities that boost intelligence, like reading and deep thinking. Children as young as five are underperforming academically due to excessive screen time, with studies showing a 30% drop in reading time since 2010 (Daily Mail, 2024). This “academic displacement” reduces vocabulary development and abstract reasoning, directly impacting IQ scores. Additionally, a shift in educational priorities toward STEM, while valuable, may have sidelined skills like verbal reasoning, as noted by Dworak in the Northwestern study.
Liberty and Critical Thinking: The Missing Link
From a liberty-minded perspective, this IQ drop underscores a fundamental flaw in the U.S. education system: it’s become a government-controlled machine that stifles independent thought. The Founders envisioned a nation where individuals could think critically and govern themselves—liberty demands it. Yet, federal policies like No Child Left Behind (2001) and Common Core (2010) have centralized education, imposing uniform standards that prioritize test scores over creativity. A 2024 report from the Cato Institute ranks the U.S. 15th globally in educational freedom, lagging behind nations like Finland, where inquiry-based learning drives PISA scores of 551 in science (2022) compared to the U.S.’s 499.
States that prioritize liberty in education—like New Hampshire, with its Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), and Montana, with minimal testing requirements—show how local control and parental choice can foster critical thinking. New Hampshire’s EFAs, expanded in 2023, let parents use public funds for private or homeschool options, earning the state an “A” in Cato’s 2024 Education Freedom Report Card. Montana’s relaxed homeschooling laws and focus on practical skills like agriculture encourage independent learning over rote memorization. These states, while not immune to the IQ decline, offer a blueprint for reform: reduce government overreach, empower families, and prioritize critical thinking over standardized conformity.
Implications and the Path Forward
The IQ drop since 2010 is a warning sign—our education system is failing to cultivate the cognitive skills needed for a free society. If this trend continues, the U.S. risks falling further behind globally, where nations like Singapore (575 in PISA math, 2022) lead by emphasizing problem-solving over testing. Economically, a less intelligent workforce could stifle innovation—national IQ correlates with GDP growth (r = 0.82, Lynn & Vanhanen, 2002)—and exacerbate inequality, as lower IQs are linked to poorer life outcomes (Northwestern Now, 2023).
South Dakota can lead the way by rejecting federal mandates and embracing liberty-first education. We need schools that teach students to think, not just to test—curricula that prioritize inquiry, debate, and real-world problem-solving over government scripts. I’m Jerry Odom, fighting for South Dakota’s liberty since 2007. Join me at the Liberty Forum, April 19th, 2:00 PM, First Assembly of God, Rapid City, to end property taxes and champion an education system that fosters true freedom and critical thinking! Share if you’re ready to rethink education! #OdomForLiberty #SouthDakotaStrong #LibertyForum2025 #TrumpTough #MAGA2026 #EducationFreedom #FreedomFirst #CriticalThinkingMatters
Why This Report Matters
- IQ Decline Data: Highlights the Northwestern study’s findings—drops in verbal, matrix, and numerical reasoning since 2010, with only spatial reasoning improving.
- Educational Crisis: Links the decline to overemphasis on standardized testing, reduced reading, and technology displacement—backed by studies and expert opinions.
- Liberty Perspective: Critiques federal overreach in education, advocating for local control and parental choice as seen in states like New Hampshire and Montana.
- This report’s a liberty wake-up call—education must serve freedom, not control!