# Swedish Researchers Link Intelligence to Voting and Charity

> Swedish researchers find higher cognitive scores correlate with increased charitable giving and voting rates among adults.
- Title: Swedish Researchers Link Intelligence to Voting and Charity
- Summary: Swedish researchers find higher cognitive scores correlate with increased charitable giving and voting rates among adults. Swedish researchers found people…
- Keywords: swedish, intelligence, voting, charity, donations, electoral participation, cognitive tests, conscription exams, Researchers, Link, Psychologies
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/moi/se-connaitre/Les-personnes-qui-vont-voter-sont-elles-plus-intelligentes-que-celles-qui-sabstiennent-Des-chercheurs-suedois-ont-tranche-643977
- Author: Guillaume Servant
- Published: 2026-10-22T16:06:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: swedish, intelligence, voting, charity, donations, electoral participation, cognitive tests, conscription exams
## Swedish researchers find link
Swedish researchers analyzed over a million Swedes' cognitive test scores from military conscription exams and linked them to charitable giving and voting behavior.

> Les personnes qui vont voter sont-elles plus intelligentes que celles qui s'abstiennent ?
## Cognitive test scores measured
The study used standardized military conscription exams from 1969 to 1997 with scores ranging from 1 to 9 for general intelligence.
## Pro-social behaviors tracked
Researchers linked cognitive scores to three pro-social behaviors: charitable donations, participation in European elections, and ownership of eco-friendly vehicles.
## Men show stronger links
For men, each additional standard deviation in cognitive score increased donation probability by 40%, voting by 31%, and eco-vehicle ownership by 14%.
## Women show similar trends
Women showed similar patterns in charitable giving and voting but with a smaller sample size and less representativeness than men.
## Twin analysis confirms link
Twin studies showed cognitive differences between twins predicted charitable behavior and voting, though the effect was weaker than in the general population.
## Education explains part of link
Education level accounted for a significant portion of the intelligence-behavior link, suggesting schools teach civic values and cooperation.
## No causal relationship proven
The study shows correlation, not causation, and other factors like health and socialization may influence both cognitive scores and pro-social behaviors.
## Key takeaway

Swedish researchers found people with higher cognitive test scores are more likely to donate to charities and vote, even after accounting for education and income.