Octopus IQ Compared to Human: Is an Octopus Smarter?

7 min read · IQ Tester

Octopus IQ compared to human? There isn't a real number, because nobody can give an octopus an IQ test. What we do know: octopuses are the smartest invertebrates on the planet, they solve puzzles, open jars and escape tanks, but humans are far ahead on language, planning and abstract reasoning. So no, an octopus is not smarter than you. It's just smart in a totally alien way.

If the octopus clip made you wonder which kind of reasoning you're actually strong at, IQ Tester breaks it down by category so you can see where you shine and where you slip: Find my weak spots.

Octopus vs human IQ: the short answer

IQ is a human invention. It compares your answers on reasoning questions to other people your age, with 100 as the average. An octopus can't read a number series or answer a verbal analogy, so "octopus IQ" is a vibe, not a measurement.

Here's the honest comparison, side by side:

That last row matters. An octopus figures life out solo, fast, and then dies young. A human gets 18+ years of school, group chats and parents yelling "use your head." Different game entirely.

Is an octopus smarter than a human? Real talk

No. But "are octopus more intelligent than humans" is a fun question because octopuses are good at stuff we find hard, like changing skin color and texture in a fraction of a second, and tasting what they touch with their suckers. Being great at camouflage isn't the same as being great at reasoning, though.

Nine brains? How an octopus thinks

You've probably seen "octopuses have nine brains" on your For You page. It's a simplification, but not a total lie.

• One central brain wraps around the esophagus (yes, their food goes through their brain).
• Eight clusters of nerve tissue, one in each arm, handle a lot of the arm's movement and sensing locally.

So the "nine brains" line is shorthand for this split. The arms can do a lot without waiting for instructions from the center. Imagine if your hands could search your bag for your AirPods while you kept texting, without you thinking about it at all.

Octopus brain facts that actually hold up

• They have three hearts and blue blood (copper-based, not iron-based).
• Most of their neurons live in their arms, not their head.
• They're mollusks, so their closest relatives include snails and clams. Intelligence evolved in them separately from how it evolved in us.

That last point is why scientists find them so interesting: it's like meeting a second, independent version of "smart."

Escapes, jars and puzzles: the evidence

This is where octopus intelligence compared to humans gets genuinely impressive.

Octopus opening a jar

Aquariums and researchers have shown octopuses opening screw-top jars to get food inside, and some have learned to open them from the inside too. That takes trial and error plus a bit of memory about what worked last time.

The great octopus escape

In 2016, New Zealand's National Aquarium reported that an octopus called Inky got out of his tank through a small gap, crossed the floor and slipped down a drainpipe that led to the ocean. Octopuses have no bones, so any gap bigger than their beak is basically a door.

Coconut shell carrying

Researchers in Indonesia filmed veined octopuses carrying coconut shell halves across the sea floor and assembling them into a shelter when needed. That's a big deal because carrying something now for use later looks a lot like planning, and it's often counted as tool use.

What the evidence does and doesn't show

• It shows problem solving, learning by trial and error and flexible behavior.
• It doesn't show language, math or reasoning about abstract rules, which is what human IQ tests mostly check.

Octopus vs dolphin

"Octopus IQ vs dolphin" is one of the most searched versions of this question. Short version: dolphins usually rank higher in the "smartest animals in the ocean" lists.

• Dolphins are mammals with big brains, long lives and complex social groups. They've shown signs of recognizing themselves in a mirror, and they learn from each other.
• Octopuses are mostly loners with short lives. Their smarts are about solving physical problems, fast.

Which is smarter depends on the test. On social learning, dolphins win easily. On squeezing out of a locked box, the octopus would probably win. It's the same reason a friend who's elite at chess might be mid at reading the room in a group chat. Different skills.

Chimps and elephants have their own cases too; see what the IQ of a chimpanzee really is and how smart elephants are.

Why viral 'octopus IQ' numbers are fake

You might have seen videos claiming an octopus IQ level of 40, 70 or even "higher than a toddler." Here's why every octopus IQ estimate like that is invented:

1. IQ is normed on humans. A score only means something when it's compared to people who took the same test. There are no octopus norms.
2. The test format doesn't work. Octopuses can't read, speak, or point at option B.
3. Different species, different skills. There are around 300 octopus species, and they don't all behave the same way.
4. Engagement bait. A precise number gets more comments than "it's complicated."

The same problem shows up with human scores online, by the way. A number looks official but can mean very little without context. If you've been chasing a figure, our posts on whether 135 IQ is good and the 160 IQ percentile show how to read a score honestly.

Judging your own reasoning is hard for the same reason judging an octopus is hard: you need a fair test and something to compare against. IQ Tester gives you 20 untimed questions across number series, verbal analogy, logic and pattern, weighs hard questions more, and shows which categories are your strengths. Find my weak spots

What octopuses teach us about problem solving

Octopuses are basically a masterclass in figuring things out alone with no tutorial. A few lessons you can steal:

• Try, then adjust. Octopuses don't stare at a jar for ten minutes. They test a move, notice what happens, try the next one. That's exactly how to crack a pattern question you've never seen.
• Use what's around you. The coconut octopus didn't wait for a perfect shelter. It used trash from the sea floor. On a test, use the answer options to check your rule.
• Remember what worked. Octopuses get faster at puzzles they've solved before. You do too, which is why short daily practice beats one cram session before a quiz or an exam.
• Know your strengths. An octopus doesn't try to out-talk a dolphin. Know which kind of reasoning you're good at and which one needs work.

So the real takeaway from octopus IQ compared to human: intelligence isn't one number. It's a mix of skills, and every brain, eight-armed or not, has a profile.

See your own reasoning profile

You can't test an octopus, but you can test yourself. IQ Tester has 20 untimed questions in four categories, saves your answers if you close the tab, and the free result shows your score band plus three of your four category strengths. Its guides then point you to a short daily drill for your weakest area.

Find my weak spots

FAQ

What is the octopus IQ level?

There's no real octopus IQ level, because IQ tests are built and scored for humans. Any exact number you see online is made up. What scientists can say is that octopuses are the most capable problem solvers among invertebrates.

Is an octopus smarter than a human?

No. Octopuses are clever at physical puzzles, camouflage and escaping, but humans are far ahead on language, planning, math and abstract reasoning. They're smart differently, not smarter.

Do octopuses really have nine brains?

Sort of. They have one central brain plus a cluster of nerve tissue in each of their eight arms, and those arm clusters can handle a lot on their own. "Nine brains" is a catchy simplification of that setup.

Octopus IQ vs dolphin: which is smarter?

Most lists rank dolphins higher, mainly because of their social learning, long lives and big mammal brains. Octopuses are better thought of as brilliant solo problem solvers. It depends on which skill you're measuring.

Is there an animal IQ test I can compare myself to?

Not a real one, since animal and human tests aren't on the same scale. If you want to compare yourself to other people instead, IQ Tester gives an entertainment-grade reasoning test with category breakdowns so you can see your strengths.