Americans’ Beliefs in Extraterrestrial Life and UFOs

Most Americans today believe that intelligent life exists beyond Earth. Recent surveys show a significant proportion of the population thinks we have already made contact with extraterrestrials. For those yet to think contact has occurred, many anticipate it in the future. If and when this happens, the majority say they’d respond with curiosity rather than fear, mixed with some anxiety.

The recent release of official UFO files by the government has fueled these beliefs. Particularly among people who have viewed these videos, there’s a strong sentiment that Earth has already been visited by beings from other planets. A prevailing view holds that the government knows more than it shares, a sentiment shared by a large majority across different demographics.

Belief in extraterrestrial life has increased over recent years. In 2010, less than half of Americans thought intelligent life existed on other planets, but this belief has now expanded. More men and women across different ages and educational backgrounds agree that life beyond Earth is likely.

While many are curious about the idea of meeting extraterrestrials, there’s also a level of apprehension. A portion reports feeling uneasy, although those who claim to have seen UFOs are more inclined to feel excited at the prospect.

“Seventeen percent of Americans claim to have witnessed something they believe was a UFO,” according to recent polls. This number aligns with past findings but shows an increase compared to the 1970s. More men report sightings than women.

The public is divided over whether UFOs could be alien spacecraft or merely human or natural phenomena. Those who believe in intelligent life lean towards the former. However, those skeptical of extraterrestrial life often attribute UFOs to earthly causes.

Awareness of the government’s files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) is widespread. Four in ten Americans have watched the released videos. This exposure has influenced their beliefs, making them more likely to think aliens have visited Earth, especially among those who have seen the footage.

Despite these diverse views, a consistent belief emerges that the U.S. government is not sharing all it knows about UFOs. This suspicion transcends political affiliations, with Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike agreeing on this point.

This CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted with 2,023 U.S. adults from June 2-4, 2026, reflects a cross-section of the national demographic landscape. The sample considered gender, age, race, and education as per the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The margin of error stands at ±2.8 points. Historical polls from 1997, 2010, 2017, and 2021 were conducted via phone.