Humans are considered more intelligent overall than dolphins, though dolphins are among the most intelligent non‑human animals.

How dolphin intelligence compares

Dolphins have large, complex brains with a very high brain‑to‑body size ratio, second only to humans on some measures. They show advanced cognition such as self‑recognition in mirrors, complex social behavior, problem‑solving, and understanding of some symbolic communication.

Why humans are still “smarter”

Humans outperform dolphins in abstract reasoning, cumulative culture, complex language, and sophisticated tool use and technology. Current cognitive tests indicate that dolphins, while extremely smart, do not reach the same level of flexible problem‑solving and symbolic thinking that humans do.

Key differences at a glance

Aspect| Dolphins| Humans
---|---|---
Brain/body ratio| Very high, second only to humans 59| Highest known EQ of any species 9
Self‑awareness| Pass mirror test in some studies 5| Universally self‑aware, rich introspection 4
Language/communication| Complex vocalizations, some symbol use 17| Full grammar, writing, mathematics 8
Tool use/technology| Limited, simple tools in wild 2| Extensive, from simple tools to computers 28

So dolphins are extraordinarily smart animals, likely among the smartest after humans, but not “smarter than humans” overall.