Survey Reveals 20% of Americans Think Aliens Walk Among Us

WHO:

CBS News - 2,023 U.S. adults were surveyed in a nationally representative sample.

WHAT:

NY Post - 20% of Americans believe aliens are already among us.

CBS News - 21% of respondents said, “We already have” contact with extraterrestrials.

CBS News - 80% of Americans think the government knows more about UFOs than it is telling.

CBS News - 17% of Americans report having personally seen something they thought was a UFO.

CBS News - 30% of respondents say the released material has made them more likely to believe that aliens visited Earth.

CBS News - 40% of those who watched the released videos believe aliens have visited Earth.

WHERE:

CBS News - The survey was conducted in the United States.

WHEN:

CBS News - The survey was conducted between June 2-4, 2026.

WHY:

CBS News - The belief in extraterrestrial life has become more widespread since 2010, when fewer than half of Americans believed in it.

CBS News - The government's recent release of UFO files has influenced public perception regarding extraterrestrial life.

HOW:

CBS News - The survey was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote.

CBS News - The margin of error for the survey is ±2.8 points.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 23:29 UTC)

A recent survey conducted in the United States found that 20% of Americans believe aliens are already among us, while 21% say we have had contact with extraterrestrials. Additionally, 80% of respondents think the government knows more about UFOs than it's revealing, and 30% feel that recently released material has increased their belief that aliens have visited Earth. The survey, which included 2,023 U.S. adults and was conducted between June 2 and June 4, 2026, shows a growing belief in extraterrestrial life, a significant shift since 2010 when fewer than half of Americans held this view.