It wasn’t so long ago that animals weren’t seen as particularly bright beings. Except for maybe chimps and dolphins - we always knew those guys were up to something (taking over the planet? Forming an itty-bitty dolphin committee? Who knows). But now, thanks to YouTube videos and progress in science, we can be pretty certain that animals are, in fact, sentient beings capable of solving tasks, using tools, and even displaying human-like emotions. Now, that said, not all of them are made equally, and some smart animals are even smarter than the rest. Want to meet the most intelligent animals on planet earth? Well then, you’re in luck, for this is our article dedicated to the smartest animals in the world!
Now, in this nifty smart animals list, you’ll absolutely meet the ones that are the most likely contenders. Think bonobos, chimpanzees, dolphins, and crows. However, some contenders might come as a surprise to you! Did you know that honey badgers are also capable of using tools or that pigeons can recognize themselves as well as memorize and differentiate human faces? Pretty impressive, right? That said, animal intelligence might come off on rather different terms from the ones we share as humans, but if you need a comparison to grasp just how smart some of these most intelligent animals are, most of them are just as capable as 4-to-5-year-old human kids, while some exceed it tremendously! That’s so smart, it’s actually a bit spooky.
Now, this list will present the animals ranked by intelligence; however, if you’d like to change it up a bit, give the animals you like the most your vote, and they will find their way to the top of this list. And once you’re done reading, be sure to share this list with your friends!
#1 Elephant
Not only are elephants big in their stature, but they also tower among others in their intelligence. Known to have excellent memory and displaying human-like emotions, elephants are one of the smartest land animals.
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53points
#2 Octopus
Although they might look like entities from outer space, they have very earthly intelligence. Same as mammals, these cephalopods are known to have the ability to solve complex problems are real escape artists!
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47points
#3 Domestic Cat
They are stubborn and often weird, but that's because the intelligence of a domestic cat compares to that of a 2-year-old human toddler! One interesting thing about cats is that they understand that if an object is out of sight, it doesn't mean it has vanished forever. They do know you've hidden their treats.
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47points
#4 Crow (Corvid)
These plain-looking birds are nothing but plain when it comes to intelligence. Crows are known to use tools, solve complex problems requiring planning, and are great at communicating. They can also remember the faces of their wrong-doers, so treat them with respect!
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43points
#5 Orca
You might not believe this, but experts agree that orcas are more intelligent than dogs! Besides having the second-biggest brains among all ocean animals, they have a definite sense of self, and display various behaviors linked to intelligence.
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37points
#6 Raccoon
Although we're used to seeing them as these cute yet pesky trash burglars, raccoons are actually quite intelligent. In fact, they rank as high as monkeys on intelligence tests! Maybe that's why, no matter the lock you put on your bins, they always find a way to get to the good stuff.
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37points
#7 Gorilla
There is no doubt that gorillas are highly intelligent! Remember Koko, the gorilla who learned how to use sign language? If that's not proof of this species' intelligence, we don't know what is.
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35points
#8 Sperm Whale
Sperm whales are one of the very few animals who can recognize themselves! Hopefully, that does not come with human-like attributes like an occasional episode of a low-self esteem. Sperm whales are capable of solving problems, and they can even find people who are lost at sea or pinpoint underwater landmines!
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35points
#9 Dog
We all know that dogs are smart, but did you know that their intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human kid? Now, only if human kids were so amenable and cute...
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33points
#10 Bottlenose Dolphin
We all know that dolphins are intelligent - they are known to use tools, have a complex communication system, give 'names' to each other, and are capable of solving various problems. Not to mention they're painstakingly cute!
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32points
#11 Otters
We all know otters as these painstakingly cute and adorably playful animals, but they are also pretty smart. Some studies show, that otters might be just as smart as dolphins!
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32points
#12 African Grey Parrot
These adorable parrots are among the most intelligent animal species in the world. In fact, they are capable of solving some cognitive tasks at the levels and beyond that of five-year-old humans!
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29points
#13 Squirrel
It's easy to assume that squirrels are not as bright just because they don't use tools. But how would you use a tool with such tiny little arms? Anyway, they are capable of learning by observing which is a clear sign of intelligence.
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28points
#14 Orangutan
A recent study shows that orangutans are better at making various tools than human kids, three to four-year-olds, to be exact, because that is how smart orangutans are compared to humans.
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27points
#15 Pig
Pigs are considered the fifth most-intelligent animal in the world, outranking dogs! We're not sure how the study was done, but that particular one showed that pigs are capable of playing video games with more focus and success than chimps.
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27points
#16 Cow
Slow and amenable, cows might not strike you as highly intelligent. However, they learn new things even faster than dogs, can solve problems requiring logic, and form long-lasting friendships with other cows they particularly like!
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26points
#17 Sea Lions
Sea lions, a.k.a water puppies, might be just as smart (if not smarter!) than their land counterparts. They have excellent short-term memory and exceed at learning new things.
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26points
#18 Honey Bee
Although positively tiny, honey bees are very complex animals. Bees can count, recognize human faces, learn tools use, and understand abstract concepts. All that in a tiny stiped package!
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23points
#19 Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
Manta rays have the largest brain-to-body mass ratio of any cold-blooded fish. Don't ask us where its brain is, though. Studies have shown that manta rays may be able to recognize themselves in a mirror, which is an ability reserved only to highly intelligent animals.
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22points
#20 Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are one of the most intelligent animals around! They can learn to use tools, communicate with complex vocalizations and signs, and are excellent problem-solvers.
It is noted that the IQ of an average chimp is right around 20-25, similar to a toddler's!
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21points