How Many People Can Solve A Rubik’s Cube?

Ever wondered, “How many people can solve a Rubik’s Cube?” It often feels like a secret club, reserved for geniuses and math whizzes. But the truth is a lot more encouraging than you might think.

While it’s tricky to get an exact number, estimates suggest that around 5.8% of the global population has solved the cube at least once. That’s a small group, but it proves that solving the cube is a learnable skill, not some kind of superpower. The idea that only a select few have the “cognitive abilities” is a myth.

Anyone can learn the methods to solve it. With countless free online tutorials and guides, joining that 5.8% is more achievable than ever. It’s less about innate talent and more about patience and learning the right steps.

Another Interesting Read: How To Solve Triangle Rubik’s Cube?

Why Do People Think Only a Few Can Solve a Rubik’s Cube?

The Rubik’s Cube seems impossibly complex, and for a good reason. A standard 3×3 cube has over 43 quintillion possible combinations. That’s 43 with 18 zeros after it!

Trying to solve it by randomly twisting the sides would be like trying to win the lottery every single day for the rest of your life. It’s just not going to happen. This staggering number is why many people believe you need to be a genius to solve it.

But here’s the secret: nobody solves it by chance. Every person who can solve a Rubik’s Cube, from a casual hobbyist to a world champion, does so by learning a method that uses a series of steps and pre-planned move sequences called algorithms.

So, What Percentage of People Can Actually Solve It?

As mentioned, the most common estimate is that just under 6% of people can solve a Rubik’s Cube. However, this number is constantly growing. Thanks to the internet, resources that were once hard to find are now available to everyone. The rise of “speedcubing,” the sport of solving the cube as fast as possible, has also inspired millions to pick one up and learn.

Within that small group of solvers, an even smaller fraction can solve it quickly. Less than 1% of the population can likely solve it in under a minute. But don’t let that discourage you. Your first solve might take an hour, but with practice, getting under two minutes is a very achievable goal for most beginners.

How the Cube Works (and Why That Makes It Solvable)

A standard Rubik’s Cube is a 3x3x3 puzzle with six faces, each a different color. It’s made up of 26 individual pieces, or “cubies,” connected to a central core mechanism. These pieces are not all the same.

• Centers: There are 6 center pieces, one for each face. They have one color, and they do not move from their position relative to each other. The red center is always opposite the orange, white is opposite yellow, and green is opposite blue.
• Edges: There are 12 edge pieces, which have two colors each.
• Corners: There are 8 corner pieces, which have three colors each.

The fact that these pieces have defined roles is the key to solving the puzzle. You’re not just moving colors around; you’re moving specific pieces back to their correct positions. Every solving method is based on this principle.

Practice Makes Perfect: How to Get Better at Solving

If you truly want to join the club of Rubik’s Cube solvers, the path is clear: practice. But “practice” doesn’t mean mindlessly twisting. It means learning a method and practicing its steps until they become second nature.

Here are some of the best resources to get started:

• YouTube Channels: Creators like J Perm have incredibly clear and easy-to-follow tutorials for absolute beginners. His video “Learn How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube in 10 Minutes” is a fantastic starting point.
• Online Simulators and Solvers: Websites like Grubiks and RubiksCu.be let you practice on a virtual cube and can even provide a step-by-step solution for your scrambled cube if you get stuck.
• Timer Apps: Once you learn the method, using a timer app like csTimer or Twisty Timer can help you track your progress and make practicing more fun.

For those who get serious, you can even attend official competitions sanctioned by the World Cube Association (WCA), the governing body for the sport of speedcubing.

Tips and Tricks for Aspiring Cube Masters

Every solver starts with a beginner-friendly method. The most common one is the “Layer-by-Layer” method. It breaks the puzzle down into manageable goals, like solving the top face first, then the middle layer, and finally the last layer.

As you improve, you can learn more advanced methods that are faster and more efficient. The most popular method used by world-class speedcubers is called CFOP, which stands for:

• C – Cross: Building a cross on the first layer.
• F – F2L (First Two Layers): Solving the first two layers simultaneously.
• O – OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer): Orienting all the pieces of the last layer.
• P – PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer): Permuting the pieces of the last layer into their final positions.

The CFOP method requires learning many more algorithms than the beginner’s method, but it’s what allows solvers to achieve mind-bogglingly fast times.

Famous Rubik’s Cube Solvers and World Records

The world of speedcubing is full of incredible talent. The original article mentioned Feliks Zemdegs, who is a legend in the community, but the records are broken constantly!

As of early 2025, the official 3×3 single solve world record is a stunning 3.08 seconds, set by Yiheng Wang of China. This record broke the previous time of 3.13 seconds held by American cuber Max Park, another giant in the sport who is featured in the Netflix documentary “The Speed Cubers.”

These top-tier solvers practice for hours a day and have mastered pattern recognition and muscle memory to perform at such a high level. They show what’s possible when dedication meets a passion for the puzzle.

Conclusion: How Many People Can Solve a Rubik’s Cube?

So, how many people can solve a Rubik’s Cube? While the percentage is small, the number of solvers is growing every day. The cube isn’t an IQ test; it’s a test of patience and learning.

That feeling of seeing all six sides perfectly solved for the first time is something everyone can experience. With the right method and a bit of practice, you can absolutely become one of the people who can solve it.

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