ISFPs are peaceful, caring and open individuals. They stand on their own two feet and will carve their own path in the world, being entirely happy with living by their own set of rules and ideals, and not just content with following what people have done before. An ISFP's hidden creativity will take many people by surprise as they are modest in their quiet achievements and will harness their imaginative creativity as an expressive outlet. ISFPs are in touch with other people's feeling as much as they are with their own, instinctually seeing what lies just beneath the surface in their friends and family.
ISFP Principles
What are the core principles behind the ISFP personality type?
ISFPs are independent and creative. Their demeanour is often so serene that others may be surprised to learn, upon getting to know them, that they have rich inner lives. Playful and observant, they are sometimes nicknamed ‘The Adventurer’ and ‘The Innocent’.
People with ISFP type personality are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.
Quietly empathetic with a gentle way of accepting and nurturing others.
Curious observers and spontaneous explorers.
Low need for structure, indifference to rules.
Playful and creative, readily bond with children and animals.
Particularly drawn to nature and art
Accepting and Nurturing
ISFPs enjoy creating aesthetically pleasing atmospheres where people feel welcome to be themselves. Charming but quiet, ISFPs are easy to confide in. Highly observant, they tune into the emotional states of the people around them. Contented and serene much of the time, they derive their own happiness from creative expression, close relationships, and solitude. They believe that everyone can find their own unique path to happiness and a fulfilling life.
Everyone could do with an ISFP friend to come to and talk through their troubles.
Independent and Curious Explorers
Nonchalance rather than any rebellious impulse is behind an ISFPs indifference to rules, structures, and standard ways of doing things. As people who are passionate about exploring and thinking things through in a concrete, often physical way, they don't feel that they fully understand something until they've experienced it themselves, in their own way. Following a process or method established by someone else is simply not as satisfying.
Experiences are paramount to an ISFP's development of their understanding of the world.
Withdrawn and Private
ISFPs value harmony and they enjoy the diversity of people's perspectives, tastes, habits, visions. They are uncomfortable with conflict and avoid competition. Having to verbalize negative feelings is a last resort. They would rather share their feelings by showing than by telling.
ISFPs enjoy tranquility.
Creative
ISFPs often keep busy in their spare time. They enjoy creative pursuits from painting and sculpting to knitting and carpentry. They often use artistic endeavours to communicate feelings that they are uncomfortable expressing verbally. They are not particularly focused on achieving any particular goal while working their craft.
For ISFPs, their creative side is more about the experience than the result.
Data: ISFP World Heatmap
What is the global distribution of the ISFP personality type?
Which countries have the highest percentage of ISFPs? Is this type more common in certain countries? Use our research data to find out.
Figure 1: Percent of population with ISFP type
What this chart shows
This heatmap shows the percent of each country's population who are ISFP. This helps us to easily identify global distribution of this personality type. For example we see Ireland has a high proportion of ISFPs and Norway has a low proportion of ISFPs.
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 ISFP types
Top ten countries with highest and lowest percent of respondents with ISFP personality type
What this chart shows
This chart shows the top ten countries with the highest proportion of people with ISFP personality type and ten countries with the lowest proportion of people with ISFP 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:
Source: Personality Project, ISFP data
ISFP: The Four Letters Explained
What does ISFP stand for?
The four letters of the ISFP personality stand for: (I)ntroverted, (S)ensing, (F)eeling, and (P)erceiving. 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.
Sensing
I(N)tuitive vs (S)ensing
Sensing types are focused on the real-world, valuing concrete evidence, logic, and facts. They rely on their senses to navigate the world, rarely believing things they have not themselves personally experienced.
Pragmatic and realistic
Employs absolute thinking
Values lived experience
Prefers plain language
Less interested in abstractions
Sensing types pay attention to details, rather than the bigger picture. They prefer to work with raw and unadulterated information, refusing to make assumptions or draw conclusions until they have understood the crux of the issue.
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.
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 ISFP?
Which MBTI® type is the rarest and which is the most common?
Figure 3: Global distribution of ISFP types
How does the percent of ISFP type people compare with other types?
What this chart shows
This chart shows percentage of the population who are ISFP. We see that INTJ is the rarest and ESTJ is the most common. ISFP is approximately in the middle at 5.3% of the population.
Notes:
1. n=29746
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ISFP Age Statistics
Are ISFPs more or less likely to be in a particular age group?
Figure 4: percentage of ISFP types by age
How does the proportion of ISFP types vary by age?
What this chart shows
This chart shows what percent of each age group are ISFP.
Notes:
1. n=40574
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ISFP Genders
Survey data on ISFP types by genders
ISFPs are mostly female (64.2%) with 35.5% female and 0.2% other.
Figure 5: Type ISFP by gender
What this chart shows
The split between genders across the ISFP population is 64.2% female, 35.5% male, 0.2% other. Compared to the average population, ISFPs 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.
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