Poll: Majority of Americans Believe Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life Exists; One in Five Think Contact Already Made
A CBS News/YouGov poll of 2,023 U.S. adults found that 63% of Americans believe intelligent life exists on other planets, with 21% saying contact has already occurred. The survey shows increased belief in extraterrestrial life compared to 2010, and 84% of respondents think the government knows more about UFOs than it discloses. The findings reflect growing public interest in the topic, particularly following recent government releases of UFO files.
According to a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted June 2-4, 2026, a substantial majority of Americans (63%) believe intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, with one in five respondents claiming contact has already happened. The survey of 2,023 nationally representative adults shows a significant increase from 2010, when fewer than half held this belief. Seventeen percent of Americans report personally witnessing something they thought was a UFO, with men reporting higher rates than women. If extraterrestrials were to visit Earth, 67% said they would feel curious rather than scared, though many also expressed nervousness. The government's recent release of UFO files appears to have influenced public opinion, with 30% of respondents saying the material made them more likely to believe aliens have visited Earth, rising to 40% among those who watched the released videos. Across party lines, 84% of Americans believe the federal government possesses more information about UFOs than it has publicly disclosed.
How coverage differed
The New York Post's framing emphasizes sensationalism with phrases like 'out-of-this-world poll' and 'What on Earth?!' while highlighting the 21% figure prominently, whereas CBS News presents the data more systematically with detailed methodology and historical context. The Post also frames the government UFO release as 'proof' of contact according to 'true believers,' while CBS maintains neutral language about the government's disclosure.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
1 in 5 Americans believe aliens are already among us, out-of-this-world poll says
- CBS PoliticsCenter
Poll: Most believe extraterrestrial life exists – and some think it's already here
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