An ESFJ is highly attuned to the needs of others, eager to fulfil their responsibilities to helping others where they feel they can. They readily perceive the feelings of others and how others view them, and naturally navigate within their emotional environment. Likewise, ESFJs agree with cooperation and harmony, and tend to identify strongly with those qualities. ESFJs are dutiful and loyal, readily giving time to their friends and family when they feel that they are in need of it. They tend also to readily give their time to others, and can place the problems of others on their shoulders, burdening themselves with the responsibility, attempting as they do to resolve them best they can.
ESFJ Principles
What are the core principles behind the ESFJ personality type?
Sometimes called the Consul, ESFJs are happiest when serving others, connecting with old friends, and fulfilling obligations. They identify strongly with the groups they belong to, the traditions they uphold, and the rules they follow. They strive to make important contributions, and it's important that their accomplishments are valued.
In general, all ESFJs display these traits:
Dutiful, dedicated and practical
Good listeners and loyal friends
Hardworking and accomplished
Sociable and convivial
Strong community spirit
ESFJs understand that their own wellbeing depends on the happiness and success of the people around them and of the group as a whole. They are often actively involved in efforts to strengthen community cohesion and uphold beloved institutions. They are well represented as volunteers and leaders in charitable organizations.
ESFJs always try to create and maintain group harmony.
Sensitive and caring
ESFJs are often aware of what individuals need before they say anything, and they derive great personal satisfaction from serving others in tangible, practical ways. They frequently have a protective attitude regarding the emotional and physical wellbeing of the people in their lives.
Naturally empathetic, ESFJs will have an innate sense of how to best navigate the emotion world of others.
Reliable
ESFJs value loyalty and take their duties and commitments very seriously. They are excellent at maintaining structures, honouring traditions, and keeping up routines. Knowing and following detailed plans helps them feel grounded an in control. When following steps toward a concrete goal, they are rarely derailed by distractions or obstacles.
Approachable and friendly
Many ESFJs enjoy a large social network. They make friends easily and they proactively maintain long-term connections with friends and colleagues. They remember birthdays and important anniversaries. They know how to make people comfortable, and they are adept at keeping lively conversations going.
Having a large social network is enjoyable for many ESFJs.
Data: ESFJ World Heatmap
What is the global distribution of the ESFJ personality type?
Which countries have the highest percentage of ESFJ? Is this type more common in certain countries? Use our research data to find out.
Figure 1: Percent of population with ESFJ type
What this chart shows
This heatmap shows the percent of each country's population who are ESFJ. This helps us to easily identify global distribution of this personality type. For example we see Ukraine has a higher than average proportion of ESFJs and Sudan has a lower than average proportion of ESFJs.
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 ESFJ types
Top ten countries with highest and lowest percent of respondents with ESFJ personality type
What this chart shows
This chart shows the top ten countries with the highest proportion of people with ESFJ personality type and ten countries with the lowest proportion of people with ESFJ 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:
ESFJ: The Four Letters Explained
What does ESFJ stand for?
The four letters of the ESFJ personality stand for: (E)xtraverted, (S)ensing, (F)eeling, and (J)udging. 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.
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.
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: What percentage of people are ESFJ?
Which MBTI® type is the rarest and which is the most common?
Figure 3: Global distribution of ESFJ types
How does the percent of ESFJ type people compare with other types?
What this chart shows
This chart shows percentage of the population who are ESFJ. We see that INTJ is the rarest and ESTJ is the most common. ESFJ is approximately in the middle at 5.3% of the population.
Notes:
1. n=29746
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ESFJ Age Statistics
Are ESFJs more or less likely to be in a particular age group?
Figure 4: percentage of ESFJ types by age
How does the proportion of ESFJ types vary by age?
What this chart shows
This chart shows what percent of each age group are ESFJ.
Notes:
1. n=40574
2. Population: Global
3. Live dataset last updated:
Data: ESFJ Genders
Survey data on ESFJ types by genders
ESFJs are mostly female (52.7%) with 47.0% male and 0.3% other.
Figure 5: Type ESFJ by gender
What this chart shows
The split between genders across the ESFJ population is 52.7% female, 47.0% male, 0.3% other. The split between males and females for ESFJs is very similar to that of the general population.
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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