An INFJ is idealistic, seeing the positives in the world and other people, they believe that they can create a happier, more harmonious environment. Their tendency for altruism has them care deeply for other people's feelings and value their friendships strongly. An INFJ has a strong moral code that they rarely break, this personal integrity is important for an INFJ.
INFJ Principles
What are the core principles behind the INFJ type?
People with the INFJ personality type have a strong sense of personal integrity with an innate desire to nurture others. Fueled by creativity and dedication, an INFJ has a natural talent to present unique solutions to overcome hurdles.
Referred to as the 'Advocate,' the INFJ is among the rarest and often misunderstood MBTI personality types.
They regain their energy in solitude.
They prefer order and structure.
They tend to prioritize emotions and people.
They notice patterns and opportunities.
They value genuine connections with people they trust.
Empathetic
INFJs can be gentle and compassionate due to their strong sense of intuition. However, their heart-warming spirits often have them mistaken for being pushovers. INFJs have deep-rooted beliefs that keep them grounded. This stability gives them the capacity to be decisive when they must make decisions. They count on their values, inner vision, and systems to guide them through life.
An INFJ tends to approach life with profound imagination and kindness.
Structured
Chaos can easily disrupt the INFJ personality type. Likewise, any ambiguity can induce immense anxiety. Structured environments offer the focus, vision, and direction needed to perform their best. An INFJ's mind can shift into overdrive if plans change at the last minute. Nonetheless, they are perfectly able to adapt to change. The need for structure is always a preference, and reality often calls them to respond in unexpected ways.
Whether for purpose or a response to a crisis, INFJs can develop a definite and actionable plan.
Collaborator
While INFJs may be introverted by nature, they can build very healthy connections with others. Their empathic edge makes them less competitive and therefore focus on cooperation and social balance. Their warm and sensitive approach to communication, emotional honesty and insight makes an impactful impression on people. Although they find joy in helping people, they also need plenty of time to reconnect with themselves. They find refuge in solitude – to process their thoughts and feelings, and recharge.
INFJs find joy in taking care of the world, but equally need time to take care of themselves and recharge.
Visionary
What sets the INFJ personality type apart from others is their ability to exercise their imaginations as they explore new possibilities. They follow their inner world while gently focusing beyond the horizon. They often ponder future likelihoods and theorize past events. INFJs are not only dreamers – they often turn ideas and aspirations into reality. You can count on the INFJ to step up and provide a fresh perspective when a situation calls for change. INFJs can transform common ideas into unexpected yet ambitious concepts.
Nothing energizes an INFJ like finding and creating life-changing solutions for the greater good.
Data: INFJ World Heatmap
What is the global distribution of the INFJ personality type?
Which countries have the highest percentage of INFJs? Is this type more common in certain countries? Use our research data to find out.
Figure 1: Percent of population with INFJ type
What this chart shows
This heatmap shows the percent of each country's population who are INFJ. This helps us to easily identify global distribution of this personality type. For example we see France has an above-average proportion of INFJs and India has a below proportion of INFJs.
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 INFJ types
Top ten countries with highest and lowest percent of respondents with INFJ personality type
What this chart shows
This chart shows the top ten countries with the highest proportion of people with INFJ personality type and ten countries with the lowest proportion of people with INFJ 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:
INFJ: The Four Letters Explained
What does INFJ stand for?
The four letters of the INFJ personality stand for: (I)ntroverted, i(N)tuitive, (F)eeling, and (J)udging. Let's consider each of these four traits.
Introverted
(I)ntroverted vs (E)xtraverted
An introvert is often thought of as a quiet, reserved, and thoughtful individual. They don't seek out special attention or social engagements, as these events can leave introverts feeling drained.
Prefer time to themselves
Find social interaction an effort
Have close circle of friends
Introspective and curious
Prefer writing to talking
Prefer working alone
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.
Feeling
(T)hinking vs (F)eeling
Feeling types follow their emotions, feelings, and personal moral principles when making key decisions. Congruence with personal principles is essential to them. When solving problems or making choices, emotional intelligence is preferred over cold rationality.
Expresses empathy
Follows their heart
Truly believes in their principles
Shows emotional intelligence
Is guided by emotion
Feeling types are deeply empathetic, readily sympathizing with those around them. As a result, they are recognized for their interpersonal warmth and genuine concern for others.
Judging
(J)udging vs (P)erceiving
Judging types approach life in a structured, organized and carefully calibrated way, creating plans to help them achieve their goals. Schedules and to-do lists are comforting to them. They prefer knowing what they are getting into and feel frustrated in situations of ambiguity and change.
Act decisively
Organized and structured
Are finishers. They like plans and deadlines.
Like closure
Prefer structured setting
Judging types gain a sense of control by taking charge of their environment. They are self-disciplined and decisive, going for closure at the earliest possible opportunity to avoid stress.
Data: INFJ Age Statistics
Are INFJs more or less likely to be in a particular age group?
Figure 4: percentage of INFJ types by age
How does the proportion of INFJ types vary by age?
What this chart shows
This chart shows what percent of each age group are INFJ.
Notes:
1. n=40574
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: INFJ Age Statistics
Are INFJs more or less likely to be in a particular age group?
Figure 4: percentage of INFJ types by age
How does the proportion of INFJ types vary by age?
What this chart shows
This chart shows what percent of each age group are INFJ.
Notes:
1. n=40574
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: INFJ Genders
Survey data on INFJ types by genders
INFJs are mostly female (73.5%) with 26.0% male and 0.5% other.
Figure 5: Type INFJ by gender
What this chart shows
The split between genders across the INFJ population is 73.5% female, 26.0% male, 0.5% other. Compared to the average population, INFJs have a higher proportion of females.
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.