Overview
A new Gallup poll suggests that Americans remain deeply divided over UFOs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), even as government scrutiny and declassification efforts continue. According to a recent Scientific American report, just under half of respondents now say all UFO sightings can be explained by human activity or natural phenomena, a view that has declined over the past several years. At the same time, a growing share of the public believes officials are withholding information about what they know.
Shifting public opinion
The poll shows a noticeable change in skepticism since 2019. Back then, 60% of Americans said UFO sightings had non-alien explanations. That figure dropped to 50% in 2021 and now stands at 49%. While that does not indicate a surge in belief that extraterrestrial spacecraft are visiting Earth, it does point to a population that is becoming less certain about what accounts for reported sightings. The share of people saying some UAP are likely alien spacecraft has also dipped slightly, from 41% in 2021 to 37% in the latest survey. What has grown most sharply is uncertainty: the number of respondents who said they are not sure rose from 7% in 2019 to 13% in 2026.
Suspicion of government secrecy remains high
One of the most striking findings in the survey is the persistence — and growth — of public suspicion toward government transparency. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they believe officials know more about UFOs than they are telling the public, up from 71% in 1996. That trend aligns with a broader atmosphere of skepticism surrounding U.S. government handling of UAP reports, especially as lawmakers and defense officials have increased attention on the issue in recent years. The findings suggest that even where people remain unconvinced that UFOs are extraterrestrial, many still assume critical information is being held back.
Generational and political differences
The poll also points to clear demographic splits. Adults ages 18 to 29 were the most skeptical age group, with 58% saying all sightings have human or natural explanations. By contrast, people ages 30 to 49 were most likely to say at least some sightings could be alien spacecraft, with 41% expressing that view. Politically, the survey suggests disbelief in alien visitation is not confined to one party. About 53% of Democrats said all UAP have nonalien explanations, compared with 49% of Independents and 47% of Republicans. The numbers indicate that while partisan attitudes vary somewhat, skepticism remains broadly shared across the political spectrum.
Government disclosures and remaining uncertainty
The survey arrives as the Pentagon has continued releasing documents and materials related to UAP, including videos and other records that have fueled public interest but not definitive answers. Despite that activity, relatively few Americans say they have had a direct encounter: only 17% reported personally seeing something they believe could qualify as a UFO or UAP. That gap between public fascination and personal experience may help explain why suspicion persists even without widespread belief in alien craft. For now, the poll suggests that Americans are still searching for clarity — and many remain convinced that the full story, whatever it is, has yet to be told.
