Jul 23, 2025

Paranormal Phenomena Met With Skepticism in U.S.

Rachael Yi and Sarah Hogenboom-Jones
Gallup
July 21, 2025 

Paranormal Phenomena Met With Skepticism in U.S.

Two-thirds of Americans are skeptical of paranormal beliefs; none of eight concepts are believed by a majority.

"Americans are broadly skeptical about each of eight paranormal phenomena tested in a recent Gallup poll. Nearly half of U.S. adults, 48%, believe in psychic or spiritual healing. Slightly fewer, 39%, express a belief in ghosts, while between 24% and 29% say they believe in six other supernatural phenomena, including telepathy, communication with the dead, clairvoyance, astrology, reincarnation and witches.

For each of these paranormal phenomena, respondents were asked whether or not they believe in it or are unsure. Roughly one in five Americans are unsure about each of them, while at least half say they don’t believe in clairvoyance (50%), reincarnation (50%), astrology (55%) or witches (60%)."

" ... These findings are based on a Gallup poll conducted May 1-18, 2025.

Americans’ levels of belief in five of the eight paranormal phenomena are statistically similar to Gallup’s 2001 readings. Gallup has previously asked about various paranormal phenomena in 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2001 and 2005 surveys. Comparisons to some of these past data are complicated by whether the paranormal questions were preceded by questions about religion, which appear to influence the way people think about communicating with the dead and ghosts or spirits.

The 1994, 2001 and 2025 surveys included religion questions. A comparison of the 2025 results with those from 2001 shows that Americans’ beliefs in paranormal phenomena are largely unchanged. The exceptions are six-percentage-point declines in belief in psychic or spiritual healing and clairvoyance, and a seven-point drop in belief in telepathy."


https://news.gallup.com/poll/692738/paranormal-phenomena-met-skepticism.aspx

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