Have you ever wondered how rare your Myers-Briggs® personality type is? Have you ever felt like you were different than most of the people around you? Do you ever feel like your interests are misaligned with your current social group? Today we’re going to take a look at the rarest Myers-Briggs personality types as taken from a national sample of 16,773 individuals from 23 different countries. For more results of this national sample, you’ll need to pick up a copy of the MBTI® Manual – Fourth Edition.
“But my personality type is common and I still feel misunderstood!”
Having a common personality type doesn’t mean that you will automatically fit in and feel deeply understood. Even the most common personality type only makes up 15.9% of the global sample that was used for the survey! This means that regardless of your type there’s a good chance that you feel misunderstood.
Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire!
Before You Write That Angry Comment…
This article has been extremely controversial and the source of many angry comments and emails since I published it. All the data in this article is taken from the newest official MBTI® Manual. The results were taken from a sample of 16,773 individuals from 23 different countries. I’m not making this stuff up just to annoy you. I promise.
The Rarest Male Myers-Briggs Personality Type
It’s a Tie! INFJs and ENFJs are the Rarest Male Personality Types
Men who value Intuition, Feeling, and Judging only make up 2.8% of the male population combined! Insightful and empathetic, these types have a desire to draw their communities towards progress and change. Because of their future-oriented, abstract focus, they aim to motivate people towards a vision or picture of how they want the future to be. They have a knack for understanding how to move people on an emotional level.
You can find out more about these two personality types here: 10 Talents of the INFJ and ENFJ Personality Types
The Rarest Female Myers-Briggs Personality Type
The ENTJ
Female ENTJs make up only 1.5% of the female population. These ambitious types are known for their bold, strategic nature and their ability to bring people on board for their vision. Decisive and insightful, they tend to pioneer new paths in technology and business. In fact, this type is also the highest-earning personality type!
The Personality Types Ranked from Rarest to Most Common
The ENTJ – The Rarest Myers-Briggs Personality Type
Making up a mere 1.8% of the population, ENTJs are the rarest of all the 16 personality types. However, these types don’t usually mind being rare – in fact, they tend to like it! As independent achievers, they don’t feel a compulsion to “fit in” as many other types do. They value intelligence and competence and are forceful in applying themselves towards their revolutionary goals.
The ENFJ – Second Rarest Myers-Briggs Personality Type
ENFJs are the second-rarest personality type, making up only 2.2% of the population. These insightful, compelling types tend to know just the right buttons to push to motivate people towards their goals. Because they are so passionate and understanding, ENFJs have a gift for motivating people towards personal growth. They are usually very directive and decisive in achieving goals that they feel are best for communities as a whole.
The INFJ – Third Rarest Personality Type
This type has long been touted as the rarest personality type of all, even by me! However, over the last decade, they have become slightly less rare and now make up 2.3% of the population. INFJs are the “Mystics” of the Myers-Briggs system and have a gift for anticipating future implications. They are primarily focused on the big picture and they tend to have an eye towards long-range plans and less of a focus on day-to-day details. These types are deeply in-tune with patterns, symbols, and abstract possibilities. Typically caring and compassionate, they have a knack for understanding human motivations.
The INTJ – Fourth Rarest Personality Type
Intellectual, creative, and strategic – the INTJ is the second-rarest female personality type and the fourth-rarest male personality type. These individuals are driven to understand the deeper meaning behind what happens in life. It’s as if they want to grasp the “dance of the universe” and see more deeply into situations and events than most people ever consider in their lifetime. They naturally synthesize complex theoretical matters to devise strategies and develop visionary objectives.
The ENTP – 4.3% of the National Sample
As the fifth-rarest personality type, ENTPs are known for their innovative, imaginative approach to life. Because they are drawn towards novelty and transformation, ENTPs are the quintessential “idea-people” of the world. Quick, ingenious, and charismatic, they are adept at generating possibilities and analyzing them in a strategic way.
The INTP – 4.8% of the National Sample
Quiet and reflective, INTPs have a desire to understand the logical explanation for everything that happens. Because these types are so deeply analytical, they have a unique ability to focus in-depth on a problem in order to solve it. They rarely get impatient when problem-solving, unless they are pressured or micro-managed by others (which they hate). They are typically skeptical, curious, and creative.
The ESFJ – 5.7% of the National Sample
The rarity of ESFJs surprised me because they were ranked as the 2nd most common personality type in results from 1972-2002. I don’t know why this type has become rarer, but it’s an interesting new development! ESFJs are the warm-hearted, conscientious centers of most communities. These types work with determination to create a harmonious, fair world. They are typically pragmatic, loyal, and supportive and contribute a great deal to the causes they believe in.
The ESFP – 6% of the National Sample
Outgoing, charismatic, and friendly – ESFPs have a zest for life that is nearly unmatched. These adventurous souls aim to live each day to its fullest potential and approach work, life, and family with a sense of fun. Flexible and spontaneous, ESFPs adapt quickly to new people and environments.
The ESTP – 6.1% of the National Sample
Realistic and action-oriented – ESTPs focus on enjoying life and solving real-world, immediate problems. These spontaneous, adventurous types enjoy taking smart risks and often pursue entrepreneurial careers or ventures in the stock market or law enforcement. They enjoy thinking on their feet and having an active, fast-paced life.
The INFP – 6.3% of the National Sample
Idealistic, compassionate, and creative – INFPs are often the artists, authors, and background helpers of the world. They are usually quick to see possibilities and potential in people and themselves. They usually appear flexible on the outside but inwardly are very committed to their values and beliefs.
The ISFP – 6.6% of the National Sample
Sensitive but pragmatic – ISFPs are passionately loyal to the values that are important to them. They have a free-spirited, inquisitive approach to life and tend to enjoy traveling, creating, and spending time in nature. These types want to make a hands-on difference in the lives of others and are over-represented in health-care and emergency service industries as a result.
The ENFP – 8.2% of the National Sample
Compassionate and charismatic – ENFPs see life as full of possibilities and potential. They quickly make connections between events and information and make decisions based on the patterns they see. These types readily give support and reassurance to others and have a flexible, spontaneous approach to life.
The ISFJ – 8.4% of the National Sample
Supportive and loyal, ISFJs are often the good Samaritans of the type community. These types believe in nurturing their communities and preserving the details and traditions that give life a sense of beauty and meaning. They are usually considerate, responsible, and conscientious.
The ESTJ – 9% of the National Sample
Determined, practical, and matter-of-fact – ESTJs move through life with a desire to organize everything for maximum efficiency. These types focus on getting results without expending a lot of unnecessary energy. They have an eye for details and a clear set of logical standards they adhere to. They are usually very ambitious and determined in implementing their plans.
The ISTP – 9.8% of the National Sample
Adventurous and analytical, ISTPs are able to find solutions quickly in make-or-break situations. They enjoy gathering information and using it in a hands-on way in the real world. Autonomous and often mysterious, these types are highly observant to their surroundings and quickly find opportunities and resources that can be used to aid them in their goals.
The ISTJ – 15.9% of the National Sample
As the most common personality type, ISTJs are the foundation of many communities and workplaces around the world. These types are highly detail-oriented, pragmatic, and grounded. Because they are so detail-oriented and dependable, they are prized in the workforce and are often over-represented in careers like accounting and law enforcement. ISTJs strive to be reasonable in their decisions and value common sense and wisdom gained by experience. Because of this, they are usually quick to decide logically how to handle situations. They usually work towards goals steadily, regardless of roadblocks or distractions. It’s important for them to make the world a more organized, sensible, and effective. It’s a good thing we have so many of these types in the world!
Source:
MBTI® Manual – Fourth Edition
What Do You Think?
Did you enjoy this article? Did it surprise you? Let us know in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
The Lovable Quirks of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
The Obnoxious Versions of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
Here’s Which Personality Types Read the Most Books
Sources:
The MBTI® Manual – Fourth Edition
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I’m confused when you say “a national sample taken from 23 countries.” Does that mean this is a global sampling of people all over the world? Or did you pull out the numbers for just one country?
The results of the survey are from 23 countries. What’s listed here are the numbers from that national sample – so all 23 countries.
I was wondering this same thing. Wouldn’t it then be an “international” sample, as it the results from more than one country? “National” usually means one country, does it not?
Gotcha–thanks for the clarification 🙂
Interesting that the four rarest are all NJ’s. Two of my favorite people are ENFJ and ENTJ. I am INFJ and these two amaze me.
I wish you had created two lists, one for each sex, because I can’t help but think the lists would be pretty different. Although perhaps that is merely my personal bias, as an ISTP female, who doubts 9.8 percent of women in the data used were ISTP…
Hahahaha, oh this is bullshit. INFJ is the rarest. Nice try though.
It used to be, but according to the most recent global sample it’s not. The most recent official MBTI® Manual is where this information is coming from.
I’m willing to bet that Susan is a mistyped ENFJ or INFP. She even said that she didn’t relate to IEI on Twitter not that long ago. Real INFJs relate to the IEI description. She also made a silly test that implies that INFJs are warm and caring on the outside while implying that IxFPs are mysterious. She’s just proving she’s a mistype time and time again. The mysterious ones are the INxJs. She’s just an annoying mistype.
Introversion has become a lot more socially acceptable so it is interesting to see that many extroverted personality types are becoming rarer.
Inaccurate order and stats. You should cite your sources.
I did. The source is the official MBTI® Manual – Fourth edition. It’s written several times in the article.
This is the only survey I’ve come upon of the many I’ve found to indicate INFP males are not the rarest category.
Why do you suppose that is so?
It looks like she is going by updated information from the new MBTI Manual.
I am an ENTJ female and I often feel misunderstood by those around be because I look so different than other women. Actually it is what caused my boyfriend to be initially drawn to me. However, I find it difficult to find deep friendships with other women because of this difference. They often admire me, or say I’m such a strong independent women, but then they don’t really pursue getting to know me any further. I think it might be because I am intimidating to them… But since I have started dating my boyfriend (INTJ) I have found someone who can truly handle all of my ENTJ-ness. He is one of the few people who is able to call out my bs and I am comfortable having lead. It is nice to have him who I cam be truly myself without fear of judgement. Personally I’m a fan of this rarer pairing.
I’m an INTP and you’re sooo damn right about me ! Thanks a lot Susan!!!!
Thanks Marryam! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Nice article. Good job. According to the site of the Myers Briggs Company the samples are from 20 countries, though. They mention 23 samples in 19 languages from 20 countries. By the way: is it just me or does the total sample size seem a bit on the small side? Furthermore, I would like to see the percentage for INTJs in the article. For the 3 rarest types the percentages are very close to each other: all around 2%. Then for the ENTPs (the fifth rarest type) we see a percentage around 4%. It would be interesting to know where INTJs stand between these (the third and fifth rarest type). Best regards.
Hi! The sample on the web site differs from the sample in the official MBTI® Manual. I know they had an older version on their site the last I checked 🙂 In the manual they state that the global sample is taken from 23 countries. According to the manual, INTJs make up 2.6% of the global sample if that helps!
Thank you for your answer. That is exactly what I wanted to know.