It’s difficult to determine the “rarest” personality type as this depends on various factors such as assessment tools used, cultural context, and how rarity is defined.
For instance, personality is categorized into different types according to the assessment tools used. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) groups individuals into one of 16 personality types based on preferences in four dichotomies, namely: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving.
The Big 5 theory measures personality traits based on five dimensions: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN).
Lastly, the Enneagram categorizes individuals into one of nine personality types, each characterized by distinct motivations, fears, and behaviors.
That being said, this article will answer the question, what is the rarest MBTI personality type? Actually, we will cover the top 5 rarest personality types.
We will also talk a little bit about the rarest Enneagram type.
So, if you have already taken an MBTI-based personality test and have confirmed which of the 16 personality types you belong to and are curious to know where your type ranks in terms of popularity, keep reading.
What is the Rarest Personality Type According to Myers Briggs?
Overall, the rarest MBTI personality type is the INFJ. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. Also known as The Advocate or The Counselor, this personality type is found in only 1.5% of the overall population, making it the rarest personality type. It is also the rarest among the male population.
INFJ personalities are characterized by their great sense of humanitarianism and their natural intuition. They are good at understanding the motivations and emotions of other people and work hard to help people around them achieve their dreams.
People with the INFJ personality type are idealistic and tend to look for deep, meaningful connections with those around them.
While INFJ is the rarest personality type within the average American population, the situation is not black and white. Personality types may exhibit geographic variation, with certain types being more prevalent or infrequent depending on the environment, country, or region. Additionally, there are variations between the rare types among men and women.
The Rarest Personality Type for Men
As stated above, INFJ is the most infrequent personality type among men. The INFJ type makes up only 0.5% of the male population. They are gentle, idealistic, feeling, and introverted.
There are some explanations as to why INFJ is a rare personality type among men. People who are INFJs exhibit some personality traits that are believed to be more feminine, for instance, empathy and emotional intelligence.
Culturally, men are known to have "Thinking" personality types, which may show up on MBTI personality tests. This doesn’t mean men cannot show any “Feeling” nature, but rather that they tend to use their Thinking trait more, which is more likely to come out during testing.
The Rarest Personality Type for Women
According to the MBTI, the rarest personality type for women is INTJ, with 0.5% of the total female population having this personality type. They are bold, assertive, strategic, analytical, and action-oriented and are not afraid to pursue their own ideas away from the masses.
Unlike INFJs, INTJs are not good at reading both their and other people’s emotions. These characteristics are untypical of most women, which may explain why this is a rarer personality type in women.
This doesn’t mean women cannot exhibit the Thinking personality trait. Instead, it means that they display other personality characteristics more. However, it’s important to know when a situation demands a particular personality trait to take precedence and act accordingly.
Top 5 Rarest Personality Types of the MBTI
INFJ isn’t the only Myers-Briggs personality type that’s hard to find. There are many other rare personality types found in the general population. Here is a list of the top five rarest types, starting from the rarest to the most common.
INFJ Personality Type (The Advocate)
As we have discussed, the INFJ personality is the undisputed rarest personality type, with just 1.5% of the entire population having it. INFJs are deep thinkers who enjoy their own company and dislike small talk. They’re intuitive, with a high emotional level and have a great sense of empathy towards others, often motivating people to achieve their dreams.
ENTJ Personality Type (The Commander)
The second-rarest personality type is the ENTJ (extraversion, intuition, thinking, judging), comprising 1.8% of the overall population. With their problem-solving skills and decisive and outspoken nature, ENTJs are natural leaders who have a great capacity to take control of every situation. They’re assertive, results-driven, and favor challenging work environments. ENTJs are good at getting things done and always take up leading roles in their professional lives.
Male ENTJs make up 2.7% of the general population, while female ENTJs make up only 0.9%.
INTJ Personality Type (The Architect)
Making up about 2.1% of the general population, INTJ, also known as the Architect or Mastermind, is the third-rarest personality type. As mentioned above, it is also the rarest personality type for women, with only 0.5% of women being INTJs.
Individuals with the INTJ personality type are strong analytical thinkers who like seeking out new ideas and understanding things around them. They’re independent and self-confident and always focus on the future rather than the past.
INTJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Judging.
ENFJ Personality Type (The Giver)
The fourth rarest personality type is the ENFJ, comprising 2.5 of the general population. Also known as the Giver or the Teacher, people with the ENFJ personality possess excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, and a high sense of empathy and understanding of other people’s needs. These qualities make them invaluable in leadership roles and other kinds of management positions.
ENFJ stands for Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. This personality type is high among women, with 3.3% of the female population having this personality type against 1.6% of the male population.
ENTP Personality Type (The Debater)
The ENTP (Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Perceiving) is the fifth-rarest personality type, with 3.2% of the population being ENTPs.
ENTPs are slightly higher in males, with 4.0% of the male population having this personality against 2.4% of the female ENTPs.
Also known as the Debater or Visionary, ENTPs are excellent problem solvers and logical-thinking innovators who bring a unique viewpoint to every project they’re involved in. They’re open-minded and always looking for fresh ideas and possibilities.
What is the Most Common MBTI Personality Type?
We have discussed the rarest personality types, but aren’t you curious to know which personality is the most common?
Comprising 13.8% of the total US population, ISFJ, also known as the Protector or the Defender, is the most common personality type. This is no surprise at all as ISFJ are very traditional and logical people, and you’re bound to meet such interesting people in your immediate surroundings.
ISFJs love to serve others. They are kindhearted, warm, and caring individuals who bring a dependable attitude to everything they do.
Short for Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging, individuals with the ISFJ personality type are empathetic listeners with strong moral values. Since they’re introverts, ISFJs process information internally and prefer to focus on their inner world rather than seek outside validation.
But, even with their introverted nature, ISFJs still have excellent social skills that help them communicate and connect with those they intend to help. They will still need to recharge like normal introverts after a period of socializing.
As a Feeling type, the Protector uses their core values and emotions to make decisions and connect with others. They also desire to please and require the validation and respect of other people to feel valued and whole.
As a Sensing type, they care about the here and now and see the world exactly as it is. They tend to prefer real, practical ideas as opposed to theoretical, abstract possibilities and idealistic concepts.
What is the Rarest Enneagram Personality Type?
The Enneagram classifies individuals into nine distinct personality types, each with its own motivations, fears, desires, and patterns of behavior. These types are often represented by numbers (1 through 9), and each type is interconnected through a complex network of relationships.
Type 5 (The Investigator) tops the list of the rarest personality types when it comes to the Enneagram classification, with 4.8% of the population having this personality type. These head types are analytical, curious, independent, and introspective, and they spend a lot of time lost in their own thoughts. They don’t like being seen as incompetent, and therefore, they’re always seeking to fill themselves up with knowledge and understanding.
It is not known why Type 5 is the rarest Enneagram, but we might conclude that due to their introverted nature, most of them don’t participate in Enneagram testing surveys, which makes it difficult to identify them in a population. They are so focused on what is important to them that they often withdraw from the outside world, making them a rare personality type.
Understanding the Rarest Personality Types
From the list above, we can conclude that among the 16 MBTI types, the rarest personality types have some things in common. They’re Intuitives and Judgers.
However, it’s important to mention that being rare doesn’t make you superior or more desirable.
Every personality type is special, with its own strengths and weaknesses, and every individual is unique despite their personality type. The Myers Briggs and other personality classifications help you get insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different personalities so you can see where to improve to become an all-rounded human being.
So, embrace your traits and celebrate what makes you special rather than worrying whether you have the rarest type or the most common personality type. After all, it’s not just those with a rare personality type that often feel misunderstood but those with a common personality as well.
You can improve your personality by developing good communication skills, being comfortable with who you are, acquiring new skills and knowledge, and prioritizing accountability.
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