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UFO Belief by Country: The Surprising Truth
New survey data reveals who believes—and what it says about society.
Philip Saparov
December 17, 2025
In partnership with
Greetings, curious mind of the cosmos!
UFOs are no longer fringe—they’re front-page. From declassified files to Congressional hearings, belief in alien life is soaring. But not everywhere.
Some nations are true believers. Others? Not so much.
In this edition, we uncover where belief in extraterrestrials is strongest, what fuels it, and why it matters for your future—from trust in institutions to the next space race.
Let’s dive into the data behind the disbelief.
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India isn’t just a land of diverse languages and ancient wisdom—it’s also home to some of the strongest belief in extraterrestrial life on the planet.
A recent global survey found that 45% of Indian respondents believe in intelligent alien civilizations—higher than belief rates in the U.S., UK, or Australia.
What drives this cosmic curiosity? Likely a fusion of spiritual openness, technological enthusiasm, and mythology, referencing ancient flying machines like the “Vimanas.” With India’s booming space program and recent Moon landing, belief in alien life feels less speculative—more like science in progress.
🔍 Fascinating insight: In 2023, India became the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole—a region previously unexplored.
America’s relationship with UFOs has evolved from tabloid territory to Capitol Hill testimony.
Belief in alien life hovers around 40%, fueled by pop culture, Cold War conspiracies, and military sightings. But 2023 brought a turning point: a U.S. intelligence official testified to Congress about recovered “non-human biologics” from crash sites.
Factors feeding belief:
Decades of cultural lore (The X-Files, Roswell, etc.)
High-tech military encounters
Deep public mistrust of official narratives
📊 Surprising stat: 60% of Americans believe the government knows more than it’s letting on about UFOs.
Countries like 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇷 Argentina, and 🇵🇪 Peru consistently report belief levels over 45%—driven by both personal sightings and cultural legacy.
Mexico: Aerial phenomena near pyramids and sacred sites stir deep national lore.
Argentina: The town of Capilla del Monte is a well-known UFO hotspot and draws tourists from around the world.
Peru: Remote Andean regions are rich in reports of strange objects lighting up the night skies.
🛸 Curious moment: In 2023, Mexico’s Congress publicly unveiled two alleged “non-human” corpses—sparking both ridicule and international curiosity.
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Western Europe is less convinced—but there are interesting outliers.
🇫🇷 France and 🇩🇪 Germany hover around 30%, emphasizing scientific inquiry.
🇮🇹 Italy reports 40% belief, showing more public fascination with extraterrestrial theories.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom has a long history of UFO inquiry, including a now-defunct Ministry of Defence UFO desk.
🔬 Little-known fact: France’s space agency (CNES) runs GEIPAN, an official division that investigates aerial anomalies—one of the only such programs in Europe.
Surprisingly, these tech powerhouses report some of the lowest belief rates globally—less than 25%.
In 🇯🇵 Japan, UFOs are more of a pop culture fascination than a topic of serious belief.
In 🇰🇷 South Korea, a high trust in institutions and emphasis on science limits widespread speculation.
⚖️ Unexpected twist: In 2023, Japan’s prime minister acknowledged UFOs in a national security context—but public reaction remained analytical, not alarmed.
Across continents, UFO belief correlates with three key factors:
Trust in Government – Lower trust = higher UFO belief
Religious and Spiritual Openness – Flexible belief systems make room for “life beyond”
Education Level – Interestingly, belief rises with education, especially among younger generations
👁️ Mind-bending stat: Globally, 61% of people under 30 believe intelligent alien life exists. For Gen Z and millennials, it’s less a question of “if,” and more “when.”
From declassified footage to private space launches, UFOs are no longer just sci-fi—they’re strategic. Here's why it matters:
Governments globally are now investigating UAPs for defense and aviation safety.
Space companies like 🚀 SpaceX and Blue Origin are accelerating off-Earth ambitions.
For younger generations, life beyond Earth is statistically likely—not a fantasy.
📅 Future signal: In 2025, NASA will issue formal reporting guidelines for UFO sightings by airline pilots—a first in aviation history.
From ancient texts in India to congressional hearings in Washington, humanity's relationship with the unknown sky is evolving fast.
Whether you're a skeptic or a stargazer, one thing is clear: the world’s interest in extraterrestrial life is real, rising, and deeply revealing of our cultures and convictions.
Until next time, stay informed, stay grounded—and always keep an eye on the skies.
Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com
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