The 10 US States Most Likely To Spot Aliens In 2024

August 18, 2024

UFO sightings have fascinated the public for decades, sparking debates, speculation, and inspiring some of the greatest sci-fi movies ever created. In 2023, an unclassified report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence revealed that over 50% of unidentified flying objects in the US remain unexplained, suggesting some could indeed be UFOs. But which US state is the most likely to spot one, and where are the strongest believers?

To find out, JPC analyzed a range of metrics, including UFO sightings, light pollution levels, and survey data on UFO encounters across each US state.

Montana is named the US state the most likely to spot a UFO, with 1,011 sightings in the state overall.

Montana is the UFO hotspot of the US, with 1,011 reported sightings of flying alien objects. Home to the famous first-documented UFO sighting in 1950, the Mariana incident, Montana has a low light pollution level of 27.08, offering prime conditions for spotting extraterrestrial objects.

In second place, Delaware has reported 420 sightings, roughly one per 1,000 residents, thanks to its clear skies (a light pollution of 31.25). Plus, a staggering 80% of Delawareans admit that they believe in UFOs.

California tops the list with a staggering 16,354 sightings. Despite its high light pollution (57.37), the state's skies remain a magnet for mysterious objects. About 24% of Californians believe in UFOs, with 7% claiming personal sightings.

Rank	State	UFO Sightings	Light pollution	Admitting 'I believe in UFOs'	Admitting 'I have seen a UFO'
1	Montana	1,011	27.08	50%	50%
2	Delaware	420	31.25	80%	0%
3	California	16,354	57.37	24%	7%
4	Mississippi	796	21.88	38%	10%
5	New Hampshire	1,203	20.83	30%	9%
6	Florida	8,366	46.71	29%	8.%
7	Missouri	2,825	41.33	33%	17%
8	Indiana	2,744	44.13	41%	13%
9	Wyoming	418	20.83	40%	0%
10	Washington	7,268	43.57	31%	3%

50% of Montana’s population believe in UFOs, the highest number of believers of any state.

Montana is home to the most believers, with half (50%) of all residents believing in the existence of UFOs. Interestingly, an equally significant 50% of Montanans claim to have personally witnessed one with their own eyes. This dual belief and reported experience rate make Montana unique in its level of engagement with extraterrestrial objects.

On the other hand, in Delaware, 80% believe in UFOs, the highest in the nation, though, unlike Montana, no residents here have reported sightings themselves. Indiana ranks in third position, with 41% of people believing in UFOs. Yet, only a small fraction, 13%, report having actually seen one.

Massachusetts is the most UFO-obsessed state in the US, with 13,750 monthly searches related to UFOs.

Massachusetts leads with 13,750 monthly Google searches for UFO-related search terms or 19.64 per 10,000 people. Search terms include ‘UFO sighting’, ‘Are UFOs real’ and ‘UFO video’, among others. New York follows with 37,260 searches, which is 19.04 per 10,000 residents. New Jersey ranks third, with 16,820 UFO-related searches, or 18.1 per 10,000 people, showing strong interest in UFOs.

While some states are clearly fascinated by UFOs, others are less likely to show interest in the commonly debated topic, whether that be due to lack of sightings in the area, or a general disbelief in extraterrestrial activity. South Dakota shows the least interest in UFOs with 850 monthly searches, or 9.25 per 10,000 residents. Arkansas ranks second with 2,870 searches (9.36 per 10,000), followed by Louisiana with 4,300 (9.4 per 10,000).