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THE GALLUP POLL FOR RELEASE: Thursday, March 12,
1987
Only One-Third of Public Deny Existence of UFOs, Extraterrestrial Life
Princeton, NJ-- For millions of American adults a "Close Encounter of
the Third Kind" is a distinct possibility, with only about one in three
flatly denying the existence of either unidentified flying objects
(UFOs) or extraterrestrial life.
In a new Gallup survey, 50% express the belief that there are
"people somewhat like ourselves living on other planets in the
universe", while 34% are skeptical and 16% are unsure. The current
figures are virtually unchanged from those recorded in a 1978 survey,
but considerably more now than in either 1973 or 1966 believe in
extraterrestrial life.
Similarly, 49% of those who have heard or read about UFOs think they
are real, while 30% are doubtful and 21% uncertain. Belief in UFOs is
down slightly from its peak in 1978, when 57% thought they were real.
9% Report Sighting UFO
In the new survey, one person in 11 (9%) reports actually having
seen something he or she thought was a UFO, statistically similar to the
findings of earlier polls.
Belief Higher Among College-Educated
Belief in the existence of life on other planets and in UFOs is
substantially higher among persons who attended college than among those
whose formal education ended at or before graduation from high school.
Men are more likely than women to believe in extraterrestrail life,
62% and 40%, respectively, but men and women share the same opinions
about UFOs.
As a rule, people 50 and older are less convinced than their juniors
that either phenomenon has a basis in fact, but more older than younger
adults are undecided. Westerners are most apt to be believers;
Southerners, least so.
Following are the questions, the trends and the latest findings
among key demographic groups:
Respondents were first asked:
HAVE YOU HEARD OR READ ABOUT UFOS (UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS)?
Those answering affirmatively (88% of the total) were then asked:
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING YOU THOUGHT WAS A UFO?
Sighting of UFO (based on aware groups)
1987 9% 1978 9 1973 11 1966
5
IN YOUR OPINION, ARE UFOS SOMETHING REAL OR JUST PEOPLE'S
IMAGINATION?
Existence of UFOs (based on aware groups)
Real Imaginary Not Sure 1987
49 30 21 1978 57 27
16 1973 54 30 16 1966
46 29 25
Existence of UFOs (based on aware groups)
Real Imaginary Not Sure NATIONAL
49 30 21 Men 50 31
19 Women 49 28 23 Attended
College 56 26 18 No College 44
33 23 18-29 Years 53 32
15 30-49 Years 57 21 22 50 & Older
36 39 25 East 52 30
18 Midwest 48 27 25 South
39 39 22 West 62
19 19
All persons in the survey were asked the following question:
DO YOU THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE SOMEWHAT LIKE OURSELVES
LIVING ON OTHER PLANETS IN THE UNIVERSE, OR NOT?
Extraterrestrial Life
Yes No Not Sure 1987 50
34 16 1978 51 33 16 1973
46 38 16 1966 34 46 20
Extraterrestrial Life
Yes No Not Sure NATIONAL 50
34 16 Men 62 30 8 Women
40 28 32 Attended College 57 33 10 No
College 46 35 19 18-29 Years 52 36
12 30-49 Years 56 35 9 50 & Older 42
33 25 East 55 29 16 Midwest
49 34 17 South 38 48 14 West
63 21 16
The latest findings are based on telephone interviews with 527
adults, 18 and older, conducted in scientifically selected localities
across the nation during the period Feb 2-18. For results based on
samples of this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the error
attributable to sampling and other random effects could be 6 percentage
points in either direction.
In addition to sampling error, the reader should bear in mind that
question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can
introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls. These
statements conform to the standards of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.