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Four in 10 Americans believe UFOs are alien spacecraft, poll finds

Aug 26, 2026, 4:48am EDT
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An unidentified aerial phenomenon
An unidentified aerial phenomenon as seen in 2024. Department of Defense/Handout via Reuters

Americans are more likely to believe that UFOs have an earthly explanation than to think they are spaceships from another planet, according to new polling from Gallup.

Forty-nine percent of US adults believe sightings of UFOs are tied back to human activity or natural phenomena — fewer than in 2019, when 60% said the same. But in that time, the percentage who believe at least some UFOs are alien spacecraft (37%) hasn’t risen much; more Americans have just become unsure.

A chart showing what Americans think of UFOs, based on a survey.

The Trump administration has been releasing Pentagon files on UFOs, which could be adding to that uncertainty.

Most Americans are, at least, convinced that Washington is hiding something: Nearly eight in 10 believe the US government knows more about UFOs than it has told the public.

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