ENTPs are natural dreamers and debaters, relishing any chance they get to exercise their effortlessly quick wit, wide base of knowledge and ability to prove an effective point. As a result, ENTPs likewise tend to be natural polemics, readily playing the role of devil's advocate in order to push and test arguments to their limits – not just for the thrill of the exercise, but to prove themselves and others that they have the capacity to do this. There doesn't have to be a great reason to debate either – it can be just for the sake of debate itself. While this can clash with some other, more conflict averse personality types, their charisma, conversational nature, and ability to deconstruct the obvious, is sought after in business as well as general problem-solving.
ENTP Principles
What are the core principles behind the type ENTP?
The ENTP is a dreamer, a visionary, appearing a bit scatterbrained at times, a conversationalist, and a rational creator. ENTPs love to be the ones to synthesize the data of others, point to the vision of the future, and let others work to execute on that vision. As conversationalists, they are known to play the devil's advocate. This conversational stance may rub others the wrong way, but it's how the ENTP evaluates an idea. What's a more effective way to understand a point than trying to argue against it?
In general, all ENTPs display these traits:
They are creative visionaries.
They are masters of language and conversation.
They prefer to avoid the details.
They will play the devil's advocate.
Intuitive Data Synthesizers
ENTPs have a knack for seeing the big picture. Their skill lies in consuming as much information as possible and then pulling conclusions from the abstract.
ENTPs tend to find it easier to see the patterns that others miss.
Routinely Anti-routine
The ENTP personality isn't one to be boxed in; the doldrums of routine wear on them. ENTPs need some leeway in how they are permitted to tackle their challenges.
Variety is the spice of life for the ENTP.
The Devil's Advocate
The ENTP finds empathy for others by stepping into their shoes and taking on their viewpoints. It helps them refine their opinions and theories, and this personality type relishes the intellectual sparring that can come.
To understand an idea, the ENTP sometimes steps into the shoes of someone countering the idea.
Candid Communicator
The propensity and desire to debate and question norms make the ENTP a skilled communicator. They speak without mincing words, and sometimes this lack of subtlety can get them into trouble.
For ENTP types, feedback is designed to improve. They don't naturally sugar-coat their feedback.
Data: ENTP World Heatmap
What is the global distribution of the ENTP personality type?
Which countries have the highest percentage of ENTPs? Is this type more common in certain countries? Use our research data to find out.
Figure 1: ENTP types by region
What this chart shows
This heatmap shows the percent of each country's population who are ENTP. This helps us to easily identify global distribution of this personality type. For example we see Ethiopia has a high proportion of ENTPs and Germany has a low proportion of ENTPs.
Notes:
1. Countries with less than 0.001% share of global population have not been included due to sample size.
2. n=27985
3. Population: all
4. Live dataset last updated:
Figure 2: Regions with highest and lowest percent of ENTP types
Top ten countries with highest and lowest percent of respondents with ENTP personality type
What this chart shows
This chart shows the top ten countries with the highest proportion of people with ENTP personality type and ten countries with the lowest proportion of people with ENTP personality type.
Notes:
1. Countries with less than 0.001% share of global population have not been included due to sample size.
2. n=27985
3. Population: all
4. Live dataset last updated:
ENTP: The Four Letters Explained
What does ENTP stand for?
The four letters of the ENTP personality stand for: (E)xtraverted, i(N)tuitive, (T)hinking, and (P)erceiving. Let's consider each of these four traits.
Extraverted
(I)ntroverted vs (E)xtraverted
An extravert is a social, assertive, and energetic individual, who is comfortable interacting with the external world. They prefer exploring the wider environment than their own internal thought processes, and find alone time to be demotivating.
Prefer spending time with people
Full of energy and enthusiasm
Large social networks
Prefer talking to writing
Enjoys meeting new people
Introverts and extraverts can be separated based on how they regain energy. Introverts prefer minimally stimulating environments, and they need time alone to recharge. Extraverts refuel by being with others.
Intuitive
I(N)tuitive vs (S)ensing
Intuitive types focus on impressions or underlying patterns of information they see. They prefer learning by thinking it through rather than by hands-on experience.
Remember the sense of events
Read between the lines and looks for meaning.
Like to see the big picture
Daydream about possibilities
Make decisions based on hunches
Intuitive types take a high-level view and may experience dissatisfaction when attention to detail is required. People with an Intuition preference doubt and test everything. They value innovation and imagination, and present information through figures of speech.
Thinking
(T)hinking vs (F)eeling
Thinking types are objective. They make decisions based on facts. They are ruled by their head instead of their heart. Thinking people judge situations and others based on logic. They value truth over tact and can easily identify flaws.
Use logic and objectivity
Seek the truth
Value reason and rationality
Direct with people
Prefer facts to opinions
Thinking types are critical thinkers and oriented toward problem-solving. Thinking does not mean a person is without emotion.
Perceiving
(J)udging vs (P)erceiving
Perceiving types are cognitively flexible and open to new possibilities. They prefer variety and unpredictability to routine, welcoming change and rejecting rigidity whenever possible.
Open to new possibilities
Acts spontaneously
Adapts to new information
Seeks new experiences
Lives in the moment
Perceiving types are comfortable making decisions spontaneously, or even postponing decisions until more information is available. They focus predominantly on the present moment, preferring tasks which are open-ended and flexible, rather than those with deadlines or timetables.
Data: What percentage of people are ENTP?
Which MBTI® type is the rarest and which is the most common?
Figure 3: Global distribution of ENTP types
How does the percent of ENTP type people compare with other types?
What this chart shows
This chart shows percentage of the population who are ENTP. We see that INTJ is the rarest and ESTJ is the most common. ENTP is one of the more common types at 8.2% of the population.
Notes:
1. n=29746
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ENTP Age Statistics
Are ENTPs more or less likely to be in a particular age group?
Figure 4: percentage of ENTP types by age
How does the proportion of ENTP types vary by age?
What this chart shows
This chart shows what percent of each age group are ENTP.
Notes:
1. n=40574
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ENTP Genders
Survey data on ENTP types by genders
ENTPs are mostly male (58.4%) with 40.6% female and 1.0% other.
Figure 5: Type ENTP by gender
What this chart shows
The split between genders across the ENTP population is 40.6% female, 58.4% male, 1.0% other. Compared to the average population, ENTPs have a slightly higher proportion of males.
Notes:
1. n=27985
2. Population: global
3. Dataset last updated:
4. Data is derived from users' self-report responses to the question "What is your gender?"
Ellie Simmonds, MSc
University of Bath, Psychology
Ellie Simmonds, MSc in Psychology from University of Bath. Ellie is an associate lecturer on psychometric assessments and has extensive knowledge of the 16-type model.
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