There are nine different Enneagram types in the Enneagram personality system, but statistics suggest they aren’t evenly distributed amongst the population. Considering these differences, the Enneagram has some types that are more rare and some that are more common. So what is the rarest Enneagram type? Among Truity readers, the rarest Enneagram type is Type 7, “The Enthusiast,” with Type 5 “The Investigator” following close behind. 

In Truity’s survey of over 54,000 people, Type 7 represented 9 percent of the population, making it the least common of the nine types.

What motivates a Type 7?

Type 7s are some of the most optimistic personality types of the Enneagram system because they’re motivated by their desire to avoid feelings of boredom, sadness, and a lack of inspiration. These personality types are essentially allergic to negativity — which means they dislike difficult emotions and conversations and try their best to avoid them. 

Type 7’s deepest fear is to miss out on the good things life has to offer due to being stuck in a rut. To counteract this, their motivation for fun and excitement kicks in. They’re also driven to repress or ignore their fears and vulnerabilities, which is what helps motivate them to seek out novel experiences, including adventures, thrill-seeking, and travel.

What Type 7 brings to the world

The infectious, child-like enthusiasm of a Type 7 is something others will never forget. Because Type 7s avoid the bad in life and embrace the good, they’re sometimes seen as the eternal optimists or the children at heart. They bring fun and laughter to gatherings and have no shortage of good humor.

Type 7s are also tireless adventurers who prefer to keep on in the direction of new experiences. It’s not uncommon for an Enneatype 7 to return home from a trip only to have another one scheduled the next month. They love to pack their schedule with all that life has to offer, including good food, fun company, sightseeing, and thrilling activities like surfing, skydiving, and rock climbing. 

But their thrill-seeking nature doesn’t mean they don’t have their feet planted on the ground when it comes to their home life. Type 7s also have a wide range of interests and hobbies to keep themselves busy. Keeping a productive, full schedule is something Type 7s must do to feel comfortable. 

Should a negative experience crop up, a Type 7 will be the first person to find the silver lining.

How to recognize a Type 7

Do you have a friend who never seems to let the bad in life get them down? Do they love to point out the good things when a bad situation arises? If you answered yes, you might already know a Type 7. You can recognize these fun-loving types by examining their values and habits. 

They seek out life’s experiences without hesitation

Type 7s are people who focus on experiences — not as an occasional vacation, but as a way of life. They’re the types who go backpacking in the mountains on the weekends or take a spontaneous trip to a big city. Type 7s won’t hesitate to say yes to a new experience when someone invites them, so if your friend makes a snap decision to try zip lining for the first time, they might be a Type 7.

They’re optimistic and boisterous

In groups, 7s are always at the forefront of the fun, and probably have the most boisterous laugh. They work hard to avoid any negativity, so when someone brings up a difficult topic, the 7 will listen but strive to find its optimistic counterpart. For example, if someone is disappointed with a guided tour being cut short, the Type 7 might joke, “The tour guide was boring anyway,” and suggest going on a self-guided tour together instead.

Type 7s are also charismatic and never shy away from talking about topics that interest them.

They’re creative and have big imaginations

Type 7s are among the most imaginative types of the Enneagram system. They’re good at a number of things, which means they often have several interests and talents, each bolstered by their large imaginations. These talents make them hard working and productive in the workplace, even though they may still be dreaming up their next big adventure outside the office.

How to break through an Enneagram Type 7’s wall

Enneagram Type 7s get along with most people because their optimistic attitude is a ray of sunshine. However, it isn’t always easy for someone to bridge the gap between their fun side and their serious side. Because Type 7s prefer to stay in the light of life, they don’t often venture into serious conversations. This can be problematic if you’re in any sort of relationship with a Type 7. So whether you’re a Type 7’s boss, friend, family member, or romantic partner, you may want some tips on how to approach serious (but necessary) conversations with them.

Try to talk it out with a Type 7 by saying:

• “I really appreciate you, but there’s something we need to hash out.”
• “You know you’re my favorite person, but you need to face your fears.”
• “If you’re having a hard time dealing with [insert negative emotion], you can always talk to me about it.”
• “Let’s discuss the hard stuff over dinner and drinks.”

It isn’t always possible to get a Type 7 to face their fear of negative emotions, but with a little nudge, sometimes they’ll reveal a lot more than you think — whatever the problem is.

What makes a Type 7 happy?

Type 7s thrive on variety in life, so even if they’re not out backpacking through Europe, they need to keep their life’s routines evolving. That can be as simple as changing up their hiking spot or spending a day in a nearby city they’ve never seen. 

And speaking of their schedules, what makes a Type 7 happy is keeping their schedule jam-packed. They don’t want to leave too much room for boredom to creep in, so they prefer to be as busy as possible.

Type 7s also like to feel free, so the idea that they can pick up and leave a job or take off for a mini vacation is something that appeals to them most. Because of this, Type 7s thrive best in a job that offers them some flexibility such as the ability to work from anywhere, unlimited paid time off, or working as a contractor.

What about Type 5?

Type 5 is also a rare Enneagram type, with the population results measuring at around 10 percent, to as low as 6 percent on some online forums and surveys. Because it’s hard to quantify how rare each Enneagram type is without a large survey, Type 5 came in second place in this analysis compared to Type 7. 

Type 5s, with their fear of being overwhelmed by their needs (or the needs of others), spend time withdrawing from people and relationships to cope. Their need for intellectual pursuits as a departure from the world and endless thirst for knowledge is due to their motivation to understand the environment around them. 

The takeaway

Enneagram Type 7 appears to be the rarest Enneagram type, but every type possesses unique strengths and skills that makes society varied and exciting. The more rare Enneagram types seem to reflect about 10 to 12 percent of the population, while more common ones weigh in a bit higher. No matter what your Enneatype is, remember each one is equal and no type is seen as “better” or “worse” than the others.