Which Enneagram Type is Most Common and Why

Which Enneagram type is most common is not clear. Most of the information available to us today is based on the anecdotal experience of Enneagram practitioners. I am not aware of any scientific studies. It would be hard to do a scientific study because there are too many variables that make up the complexity of personality.

Many Enneagram practitioners have noticed, based on anecdotal experience, the six, seven and nines are most common, at least in North America.

The Most Common Types:

Type Six (The Loyalist)

Sixes like to prevent problems before they happen. They are excellent at encouraging people to work together. They are security oriented.

Sixes love rules as long as it benefits them. They quickly become overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.

Wondering What Enneagram Type has The Most Anxiety? Click Here

Type Seven (The Enthusiast)

Sevens like to have a good time. They have endless amounts of energy. They are curious and fun.

They will do anything to avoid pain. Seven’s fit in well in today’s world because of our phobia for pain.

Type Nine (The Peacemaker)

Nines like for everyone to get along. They are excellent at being able to understand different people’s points of view and experiences. At their best, they make great mediators.

They often don’t value themselves. Nine’s avoid conflict by ignoring personal needs. They avoid anger to the point that they blow up.

Why do these Enneagram types seem to be the most common? Here are some reasons that may explain it:

Sixes and Sevens are from the dutiful and assertive types, and they are both parts of the head center. These types are easier to notice.

The popularity of self-help books suggests there is a lot of anxiety in the world and desire for many to fix themselves. Sixes easily become anxious and fearful. Fear is part of the human condition. You can interpret this to mean there is a lot of six energy in the world.

With the serious rate of addictions in our world, suggests there is a lot of seven energy. People are doing whatever it takes to avoid the pain in their lives.

Nines are so quiet they blend into their surroundings. It is tempting for nine’s to avoid conflict in the world by trying to ignore it. Nines can be invisible.

With the world feeling out of control it is easy to understand why the nine fears anger. They see the results of people’s anger getting out of control.

In our unstable world, it is easy to understand why there is a lot of nine energy in the world hungering to bring calm and peace in many people’s lives.

The Least Common Types:

Two of the less common types come from the withdrawn group. Type Eight is the big exception. They have such significant energy around them you can’t help but notice them.  Remember all information is based on the anecdotal experience of some Enneagram practitioners.

Type Four: The Individualist

The creative self-defacing type. Four’s love to connect with others heart to heart.

Four’s are usually creative in some way. It could be painting, fashion, photography, home decoration, graphic arts, pottery, writing and more.

They sometimes get confused by what they think to be their feelings. They get their thoughts confused with their emotions.  It is easy for a four to get stuck in intense emotions because they believe this is the only way to feel alive.

In the end, fours can teach us how to be fully alive. Fours help us to celebrate our uniqueness.

Type Five: The Investigator

Type fives are head in the books types. They love to learn. Not only do they like to learn they love to learn a topic in great detail.

They are amazing observers. They may be quiet, but they are paying attention to what is going on around them. They can read a room better than anyone else.

Fives get stuck when they start to fear knowing not enough. Their greatest fear is to look stupid.

It can take great courage for a five to express an idea that they have not fully processed.

Type Eight: The Challenger

Eights know deep within themselves what they need to be about. If you want to be a friend of an eight, don’t try to block them on their missions. They love it when you join in and help.

Eights deep down inside are vulnerable. They often put a wall around their hearts because they are sensitive.

When you are open and honest with an eight, they are more likely to show their vulnerable sides.

When an eight sees someone in need of help, they will get involved. Eights particularly like to help people they feel have not been treated well or given a proper chance in life.

Wondering What Enneagram Type is the Least Common? Click Here

Why do these types seem to be less prevalent in the world? It is hard today. The two that come from the withdrawn groups are harder to notice, the four and the five. Why type eight? What do you think?

It could be that the emotional environment of the world is not so welcoming of these three types. It also could be that these energies are not as crucial for the world right now. There is no way of knowing why this may be true.

 The commonness of types may change over time as humanity needs more of certain energies.

In the end, we all have nine types within us. If you accept this truth, then every type is standard. It is just that some types are harder to see compared to others.

Whether or not you come from one of the most common types your goal is to get as healthy as possible in all nine.

Your goal is to be your true self. It is to be no more or no less than who you are meant to be.

The Enneagram shows us that if we want to be a healthy human being we need to have all nine qualities in us. Not only do we need the nine types to be healthy. We stay healthy by living in the moment (presence) where we have access to the wisdom that comes from the universe.

I am, Roland Legge a Life Coach here to help you to be emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically healthy.   You can join my newsletter for free advice, get your free E-book, and sign up for a Discovery Call that will include a mini-coaching session at no charge