Gallup poll: 11 percent say they have seen a UFO

When: Nov 1973
Sources: 1 public source

A Gallup poll fielded Nov. 2-5, 1973 found 11 percent of U.S. adults said they had seen something they thought was a UFO. Gallup has repeated the question in later polls; in July 2026 the share was 17 percent.

Sources

FirsthandGallup Poll Social Series, July 1-19, 2026: Final Topline (trend for Q73, 'Have you, yourself, ever seen anything you thought was a UFO?') (opens in a new tab)Gallup / 2026-08

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Where it fits

Earlier in Close encountersPascagoula abduction11 Oct 1973 Later in Close encountersClaude Vorilhon's claimed encounter near Clermont-Ferrand launches the Raelian movement13 Dec 1973

See it on the timeline More in Close encounters