How Many People Claim They Were Abducted by Aliens?

For decades, alien abduction stories have captivated the public imagination. From the famous Betty and Barney Hill alien abduction case in 1961, to countless alien abduction reports worldwide, claims of being taken aboard spacecraft or encountering aliens have become a prominent part of UFO lore. But just how many people say they’ve actually been abducted by aliens? The answer may surprise you.

Alien Abduction Experience

The Rise of Alien Abduction Claims

Alien abduction claims began to gain mainstream attention in the 1960s, particularly after the widely publicized Betty and Barney Hill case in New Hampshire. Since then, thousands of people around the world have reported similar alien abduction experiences, often involving being taken aboard a UFO or spacecraft, encounters with alien beings, most commonly described as “Greys,” reptilian beings, or tall humanoids. In addition, there are medical examinations or procedures performed by aliens, and missing time or unexplained memories. As mass media, science fiction, and UFO culture exploded in the late 20th century, so too did reports of alien abduction.

Alien Abduction Estimates from Surveys and Studies

While there is no definitive global database of alien abduction reports, several surveys and studies offer insight into how common these claims might be:

• Roper Poll (1991): This poll was conducted in the United States, and suggested that 2% of Americans, which was about 3.7 million people at the time, reported experiences consistent with what researchers categorized as “typical alien abduction scenarios.” These included strange alien beings, missing time, and unusual marks on their bodies.
  

• Gallup Polls and UFO Surveys: More recent polls show that roughly one-third of Americans believe in UFOs and alien visitation, though far fewer say they have had direct contact, or actual alien abduction experiences.
  

• International Data: In countries with strong UFO subcultures, such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, and parts of Europe, thousands of alien abduction cases have been documented by UFO research groups, but these numbers rarely reach national-level percentages like in the United States.
  

Extrapolating from these surveys, it’s estimated that hundreds of thousands, or possibly even millions, of people worldwide have at some point claimed an alien abduction or a close encounter of the “fourth kind."

Why Numbers Are Hard to Pin Down

Several factors make it difficult to state a precise figure for alien abductions:

• Stigma and secrecy: Many who believe they’ve had such alien abduction experiences never come forward publicly due to stigma and fear.
  

• Definition differences: Some consider vivid dreams, sleep paralysis, or unexplained events as alien abductions, while others require more direct physical encounters.
  

• Cultural variation: In some countries, alien encounters are interpreted as spiritual or supernatural experiences rather than “alien abductions.”
  

As a result, official statistics tend to be underestimates rather than overcounts.

Alien Abduction Reports in the 21st Century

Even in the age of smartphones and 24/7 video recording, alien abduction claims haven’t disappeared. Online communities, podcasts, and UFO researchers continue to document new abduction cases every year. However, the focus has shifted from isolated stories to broader discussions of government disclosure, the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP, investigations, and whether alien visitation could be real.

In short, the number of reported alien abductions may be steady or even increasing, but it’s harder to track because the conversation has moved away from local newspapers to niche online forums.

The Bottom Line of Alien Abductions

While there’s no exact global tally of alien abductions, the best available evidence suggests:

• Hundreds of thousands to millions worldwide claim they’ve been abducted or contacted by aliens.
  

• In the United States alone, polls from the 1990s indicated 2% of adults experienced events they interpreted as alien abduction.
  

• The phenomenon persists today, though it’s often discussed more privately or online.
  

Whether you believe these claims are genuine alien encounters, psychological phenomena, or a mix of both, one thing is clear: alien abduction stories remain one of the most enduring and mysterious aspects of the UFO phenomenon.

As a society, we also need to do a better job of documenting alleged alien abduction experiences, and gathering detailed evidence of their occurrence. We need to engage with alien abductees to gather video and photographic evidence of their experiences, to help identify why they are being abducted and to provide proof of these abductions. We also need to eliminate the stigma that is associated with having an alleged abduction, so that people feel free to come forward and report these experiences, and also be provided the psychological support they need to deal with these traumas.

If you believe that have been abducted by aliens, the Exo Solaria Union invites you to submit your abduction experience to us for inclusion on our website. Please know that the Exo Solaria Union is a safe place to share your experience, and that we will help to support you through these experiences. If you feel the need to see a therapist, please do so, since we do not provide those services.