WASHINGTON, D.C. — About half of Americans, 49%, think all UFO sightings can be explained by human activity on Earth or natural phenomena, while 37% believe at least some UFOs have been alien spacecraft visiting Earth from other planets or galaxies. Another 13% do not have an opinion. These findings come as the Pentagon continues to release previously classified UFO files under President Donald Trump’s executive order.
Americans were also more inclined to associate UFOs with earthly than supernatural causes the two prior times Gallup measured this, although the alien-skeptical share was higher in 2019 (60%) than in 2021 (50%) and today. Meanwhile, rather than become increasingly convinced that some sightings have been alien spacecraft, the percentage of Americans who are unsure has grown, from 7% in 2019 to 13% in 2026.
The latest findings are from Gallup’s July 1-19 poll.
The demographic subgroups showing the greatest skepticism about UFOs being alien spacecraft are men, young adults aged 18 to 29, college graduates, residents of the Midwestern and Western U.S., and Democrats.
Most Are Familiar With UFOs; Few Have Seen One
More than four in five Americans, 83%, say they have heard or read about UFOs. That is similar to the 86% recorded in 2019 but below readings from earlier decades, including 94% in 1973 when the question was first asked.
Beyond general awareness, 17% of Americans say they have personally seen something they thought was a UFO. This is essentially unchanged from 16% in 2019 but higher than Gallup readings between 1973 and 1996, which ranged from 9% to 14%.
U.S. adults who say they have seen something they thought was a UFO are much more likely than those who have not to believe that some UFOs are alien spacecraft (61% vs. 33%, respectively).
Reports of UFO sightings are highest among men, middle-aged adults, those without a college degree, and residents of the Eastern and Western U.S.
Majority Says Government Is Withholding UFO Information
Seventy-eight percent of Americans say the U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is telling the public, higher than the 68% and 71% who said so in 2019 and 1996, respectively. Just 17% now say the government is not withholding information, down from 29% in 2019 and 19% in 1996.
There is little difference in views across subgroups, including by party identification.
The widespread belief that the government is withholding information about UFOs comes after Trump ordered the Pentagon and other federal agencies in February to begin identifying and releasing government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life. The Pentagon released its first batch of previously classified files in May, with additional releases continuing since.
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