Americans’ Belief in Extraterrestrial Life Grows
The public’s belief that intelligent life exists on other planets has increased over recent years, with more than half now believing such life is possible.
A significant portion of Americans also think they’ve already made contact with extraterrestrials or expect future encounters. This sentiment is particularly strong among those who have viewed the recently released UFO files by the government.
The majority of those surveyed believe that if aliens were to visit Earth, people would react with curiosity rather than fear. However, some anxiety remains about such potential meetings.
Government’s Disclosure of UFO Files Fuels Speculation
The release of these files has led many Americans to speculate that they might already have been visited by extraterrestrial beings. Eight in ten believe the government knows more about UFOs than it is disclosing.
Those who have personally witnessed what they thought was a UFO are overwhelmingly convinced of intelligent life’s existence and would likely be curious if met, though also nervous.
Public Views on Alien Encounters
A majority of Americans think that reports of UFO sightings could sometimes indicate alien spacecraft visiting Earth. However, skeptics believe these incidents are more often the result of human or natural phenomena.
The recent release of videos related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) has influenced some people’s beliefs about extraterrestrial life, with those who have watched the footage becoming more likely to believe in alien visits.
Government Transparency on UFOs Doubts
Despite the government’s disclosure efforts, a large majority of Americans still believe it is withholding information. This sentiment is consistent among both believers and non-believers in extraterrestrial life, as well as across party lines.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with 2,023 U.S. adults between June 2-4, 2026, providing a nationally representative sample based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, along with 2024 presidential vote data. The margin of error is ±2.8 points.
Past CBS News Surveys from 1997, 2010, 2017, and 2021 were also cited in this analysis, conducted by phone.”