Founding evidence base
Cognitive Capital Research Preview 2026
The first public view of a large cross-country CAB dataset—designed to establish scientific signal, expose limitations and prepare representative official measurements.
247,573Total CAB records205,367 adult + 42,206 youth
78Adult country datasetsOrganic observations
36Youth country datasetsAges 15–24
2026Founding previewVersioned research release
Correct interpretation
These country means are exploratory research observations, not nationally representative estimates, official GCCI scores or evidence of causality. The analysis is ecological and may be affected by self-selection, sample composition, language, device and digital-access differences.
Convergent evidence
Direct CAB outcomes move with established country benchmarks.
The relationships below support further validation of the concept. External indicators remain context variables and will not be included in the core Cognitive Capital score.
Adult CAB vs GCI 4.0
r = 0.67Youth CAB vs PISA
r = 0.64Each point represents a country with both variables available. Dashed lines show simple least-squares trends. Context indicators retain the definitions and reference years used in the source workbook. Correlation does not establish causal direction or individual-level relationships.
Adult dataset
205,367 records across 78 countries.
The workbook includes mean age, five CAB domain percentiles, CAB Global mean percentile and contextual benchmarks including GCI 4.0, HCI, HCI+ and GDP per capita.
0.76CAB–HCI+ correlation
0.73CAB–HCI correlation
0.51CAB–GDP correlation
Youth dataset
42,206 records across 36 countries.
The current youth table covers ages 15–24 and includes five CAB domain percentiles, CAB Global mean percentile and PISA 2022 mathematics, science and reading results.
0.64CAB–PISA total correlation
15–17Future PISA-aligned subgroup
18–24Future young-adult subgroup
What the preview can and cannot support
Evidence with explicit boundaries.
Appropriate uses
- Demonstrating the feasibility of direct cross-country cognitive measurement.
- Testing convergent associations with education and human-capital indicators.
- Identifying countries with enough organic data for targeted methodological work.
- Designing representative pilots and sample-size simulations.
- Opening transparent scientific consultation.
Uses that are not supported
- Publishing an official country ranking.
- Claiming the samples represent national populations.
- Inferring innate intelligence, genetic differences or cultural superiority.
- Making causal claims from country-level correlations.
- Using country means for decisions about individuals.
Convert research coverage into an official population baseline.
Countries and regions can commission a representative CAB Population study under the Founding Charter and certification standard.