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The sixteen types

Four preferences, two directions each, sixteen combinations. Each type has a Koseiha archetype, a kanji seal that sums it up, and one of four families that share a core motivation, each with its own crest.

The Anchor (ISTJ), the most common type
17.6%
The Captain (ENTJ), the least common type
1.8%
of people lean Introverted
61.2%
of people lean Observant (S)
68.5%

StrategistsNT

Driven by understanding and competence.

12.3% of people

Crest: 三つ鱗 mitsu-uroko, three scales

Strategists combine big-picture perception with logical decision-making. They want to know how things work, why they work, and how they could work better, and they hold themselves and others to high standards of reasoning.

Illustration for The Cartographer (INTJ): Sees the whole terrain, then draws the route through it.

The Cartographer

INTJ

Sees the whole terrain, then draws the route through it.

3.1% of people, about 1 in 33

Illustration for The Codebreaker (INTP): Takes ideas apart until the logic underneath makes sense.

The Codebreaker

INTP

Takes ideas apart until the logic underneath makes sense.

4.5% of people, about 1 in 22

Illustration for The Captain (ENTJ): Sets the course, rallies the crew and holds the heading.

The Captain

ENTJ

Sets the course, rallies the crew and holds the heading.

1.8% of people, about 1 in 57

Illustration for The Trailblazer (ENTP): Tries the route nobody has tried, just to see what happens.

The Trailblazer

ENTP

Tries the route nobody has tried, just to see what happens.

3.0% of people, about 1 in 33

SeekersNF

Driven by meaning and connection.

19.2% of people

Crest: 七宝 shippō, linked circles

Seekers combine big-picture perception with values-based decision-making. They look for purpose in their work and depth in their relationships, and they are often at their best helping people grow into who they could be.

Illustration for The Lamplighter (INFJ): Quietly lights the way for others, one lantern at a time.

The Lamplighter

INFJ

Quietly lights the way for others, one lantern at a time.

2.9% of people, about 1 in 34

Illustration for The Wayfarer (INFP): Follows an inner compass toward what feels true.

The Wayfarer

INFP

Follows an inner compass toward what feels true.

6.4% of people, about 1 in 16

Illustration for The Torchbearer (ENFJ): Raises the light and brings people along with it.

The Torchbearer

ENFJ

Raises the light and brings people along with it.

2.3% of people, about 1 in 44

Illustration for The Catalyst (ENFP): Scatters ideas and enthusiasm, and things start to grow.

The Catalyst

ENFP

Scatters ideas and enthusiasm, and things start to grow.

7.5% of people, about 1 in 13

KeepersSJ

Driven by responsibility and belonging.

42.4% of people

Crest: 亀甲 kikkō, tortoise shell

Keepers combine attention to concrete reality with a preference for structure. They are the people who remember, maintain and protect: the routines, institutions and relationships that everyone else quietly depends on.

Illustration for The Anchor (ISTJ): Keeps the ship steady when the water gets rough.

The Anchor

ISTJ

Keeps the ship steady when the water gets rough.

17.6% of people, about 1 in 6

Illustration for The Steward (ISFJ): Tends to people and places with patient, practical care.

The Steward

ISFJ

Tends to people and places with patient, practical care.

10.6% of people, about 1 in 9

Illustration for The Quartermaster (ESTJ): Turns plans into working systems and keeps them running.

The Quartermaster

ESTJ

Turns plans into working systems and keeps them running.

8.0% of people, about 1 in 13

Illustration for The Hearthkeeper (ESFJ): Gathers people in, makes them welcome and keeps the fire lit.

The Hearthkeeper

ESFJ

Gathers people in, makes them welcome and keeps the fire lit.

6.3% of people, about 1 in 16

ImprovisersSP

Driven by freedom and skilled action.

26.1% of people

Crest: 三つ巴 mitsudomoe, three swirls

Improvisers combine attention to concrete reality with a preference for flexibility. They read the moment, act on it, and are often at their sharpest when a situation is changing too fast for a plan.

Illustration for The Troubleshooter (ISTP): Stays calm, works out how it works, then fixes it.

The Troubleshooter

ISTP

Stays calm, works out how it works, then fixes it.

9.4% of people, about 1 in 11

Illustration for The Artist (ISFP): Notices beauty everywhere and lives by quiet convictions.

The Artist

ISFP

Notices beauty everywhere and lives by quiet convictions.

6.7% of people, about 1 in 15

Illustration for The Scout (ESTP): Reads the terrain in real time and moves before anyone else.

The Scout

ESTP

Reads the terrain in real time and moves before anyone else.

4.9% of people, about 1 in 20

Illustration for The Spark (ESFP): Brings the energy, finds the fun and pulls everyone in.

The Spark

ESFP

Brings the energy, finds the fun and pulls everyone in.

5.1% of people, about 1 in 19

How common is each type?

Some patterns turn up everywhere and others are genuinely uncommon. Rarity says nothing about worth: it only tells you how often you will meet people like you.

The four letter pairs

  • E Extraverted 38.8%61.2% Introverted I
  • N Intuitive 31.5%68.5% Observant S
  • T Thinking 52.1%47.9% Feeling F
  • J Judging 52.5%47.5% Perceiving P

The four families

  • Keepers SJ42.4%
  • Improvisers SP26.1%
  • Seekers NF19.2%
  • Strategists NT12.3%

All sixteen types, most common first

  1. ISTJ17.6%
  2. ISFJ10.6%
  3. ISTP9.4%
  4. ESTJ8.0%
  5. ENFP7.5%
  6. ISFP6.7%
  7. INFP6.4%
  8. ESFJ6.3%
  9. ESFP5.1%
  10. ESTP4.9%
  11. INTP4.5%
  12. INTJ3.1%
  13. ENTP3.0%
  14. INFJ2.9%
  15. ENFJ2.3%
  16. ENTJ1.8%

Source: MBTI Global Step I results for a US sample of 3,578 adults, matched to US census targets (Schaubhut et al., 2018). Shares differ between countries, age groups and samples.

Find a type by its letters

The classic type table. Columns pair perception and decisions; rows pair energy and structure.

What the four letters mean
STSFNFNT
IJISTJISFJINFJINTJ
IPISTPISFPINFPINTP
EPESTPESFPENFPENTP
EJESTJESFJENFJENTJ

Source: MBTI Global Step I results for a US sample of 3,578 adults, matched to US census targets (Schaubhut et al., 2018). Shares differ between countries, age groups and samples.