CBS News/YouGov Poll: Most Americans Believe Intelligent Life Exists on Other Planets, but Views Split on UFO Causes

U.S. adults conducted June 2-4, 2026. The share holding that view has risen from fewer than half in 2010.

One in five respondents said they think intelligent extraterrestrial life has already made contact with Earth. Seventeen percent of Americans reported having personally seen something they thought was a UFO. More men than women gave that response.

Americans who said they had seen a UFO overwhelmingly believed intelligent life exists elsewhere. U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is telling the public. Most Democrats, most Republicans, and most independents shared that view.

Most Americans had heard or read at least something about the federal government's release of UAP/UFO files and videos, and four in 10 said they had watched the released videos. Three in 10 respondents said the released material made them more likely to believe aliens have visited Earth. Among those who watched the videos, the share rose to four in 10.

Americans who believe intelligent life exists elsewhere predominantly think UFO reports are at least sometimes the result of alien spacecraft. Those who do not believe intelligent life exists elsewhere predominantly think UFO reports result from human or natural activity on Earth.

Americans are split on whether UFO reports are sometimes caused by alien spacecraft or always result from human or natural activity on Earth.

Americans said they would greet potential alien visitors with more fascination than fear, though more said they would feel nervous than calm about the prospect of meeting extraterrestrials. U.S. adults by gender, age, race, education, and 2024 presidential vote according to Census ACS, CPS, and 2024 vote data.