What the NPI-16 measures
Narcissism exists on a spectrum. While Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a severe clinical pathology, "subclinical" or "grandiose" narcissism is a widely distributed personality trait present in the general population (and highly prevalent in politicians, CEOs, and entertainers). The NPI-16 is the gold standard short-form tool for measuring this trait. It forces the user to choose between a narcissistic statement and a socially acceptable/modest statement.
The dimensions it assesses
- Authority / Leadership: The desire to dominate, lead, and dictate.
- Self-Absorption / Vanity: Preoccupation with physical appearance and self-admiration.
- Superiority / Arrogance: The genuine belief that one is inherently better than the general public.
- Entitlement / Exploitativeness: The belief that one deserves special privileges and the willingness to manipulate others to get them.
Already have a NPI-16 score from somewhere else? Look it up without retaking the questionnaire.
What your score means
The user receives 1 point for every narcissistic choice selected (indicated in the table above).
| Score | Interpretation | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 | Low Narcissism (Egalitarian) | High humility. Views themselves as entirely equal to others. May actually suffer from low self-esteem or imposter syndrome, lacking the "healthy" ego needed for aggressive leadership. |
| 5 – 9 | Average / Normative | Healthy balance. Possesses enough self-confidence to handle life and advocate for themselves, but does not view themselves as inherently superior or entitled. |
| 10 – 16 | High Grandiose Narcissism | Extreme self-focus, entitlement, and grandiosity. Highly competitive and likely to aggressively seek leadership and spotlight. Very high risk of interpersonal conflict, toxic leadership, and ethical violations in corporate settings. |
These ranges describe groups of people, not individuals. A score near a boundary is not meaningfully different from one just across it, and no range on this table is a diagnosis.
What to do with your result
- For High Narcissists (The Blind Spot): Your grandiosity gives you immense energy and charisma, which is why you likely achieve early success. However, your belief that you are inherently superior makes you immune to critical feedback. Your career will derail the moment you surround yourself with sycophants instead of truth-tellers. You must artificially enforce feedback loops.
- For Low Narcissists (The Imposter): You are likely highly competent but fundamentally lack the ego to claim credit for your work. You are at high risk of being passed over for promotions by High-Narcissism individuals who do half the work but claim all the credit. You must learn to advocate for yourself as a mechanical skill, even if it feels "boastful."
- The "Vulnerable" Narcissist Distinction: The NPI measures Grandiose narcissism (loud, proud, confident). It does not measure Vulnerable/Covert narcissism (hypersensitive, victim-mentality, resentful but silently entitled). If a user presents clinically as a narcissist but scores low on the NPI, they are likely a Covert Narcissist.
Common questions about the NPI-16
- What does the NPI-16 measure?
- Measurement of subclinical grandiose narcissism, including traits of entitlement, superiority, vanity, and authority.
- Can the NPI-16 diagnose me?
- No. Narcissistic Traits (NPI-16) is a screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic tool. It can flag that something may need a closer look. It cannot tell you what is causing it. It describes tendencies rather than diagnosing anything, and no result here is a condition or something to fix.
- How long does the NPI-16 take?
- 16 questions, which most people finish in 3 – 5 minutes. There is no time limit, and answering honestly matters more than answering quickly. The results page checks for patterns suggesting the questions were rushed.
- Is this NPI-16 test really free?
- Yes. No account, no email address, no payment. Psychometrics Today is funded by donations rather than advertising, which is also what allows us to publish instruments whose authors permit free but non-commercial use.
- Are my answers stored or shared?
- No. Your answers are scored inside your browser and never sent to us. There is no database of responses, because we never receive any. Closing the tab erases them, which is why results cannot be recovered afterwards.
- How often should I retake the NPI-16?
- Traits and preferences move slowly, so retaking this every few months is more informative than retaking it often. Larger shifts usually follow a genuine change in circumstances.
- How accurate is the NPI-16?
- Screening questionnaires are good at flagging that something merits attention and poor at establishing what it is. This one is sensitive to how you feel on the day you take it, and many instruments were validated on narrow populations whose cut-offs may not transfer cleanly to everyone. The references at the foot of this page are the primary sources.
Sources
Rights held by Ames, Rose & Anderson (2006). Developed and validated by the researchers cited below.
- Ames, D. R., Rose, P., & Anderson, C. P. (2006). The NPI-16 as a short measure of narcissism. Journal of Research in Personality, 40(4), 440-450.
- Raskin, R., & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(5), 890-902.
Licensing
free-permitted. Short form published in the article for free research use.