States with the Most UFO Sightings 2020

So, how often are UFOs whizzing through your state? Check out this map that uses data from the National UFO Reporting Center to find out if your state is a hub of extraterrestrial activity.

According to the data, UFO hotspots include Idaho, Montana, and New Hampshire. Maine took the fourth spot, and New Mexico—home to the city of Roswell—took the fifth spot, rounding out the list of the top five states to see an alien.

Every state had some UFO sightings last year—whether that was eerie lights, erratically moving aircraft, or mysterious metal saucers. But recent data shows the most UFO activity happens in the northern states of Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, and Maine. New Mexico is the outlier here, but with a long-standing history of UFO sightings, it’s not a surprise.

If you’re hoping to make an extraterrestrial friend or two, here are the best places to spot a UFO. 

1. Idaho
2. Montana
3. New Hampshire
4. Maine
5. New Mexico
6. Vermont
7. Wyoming
8. Hawaii
9. Washington
10. Connecticut

Not everyone wants to see a UFO. If you’re scrambling to avoid an alien abduction, the safest place for you to live is in the South. 

For the second year in a row, Texans reported the fewest number of UFO incidents per capita than any other state. Other safe zones include Louisiana, New York, Maryland, and Illinois. 

We’re not sure why UFOs give Texans such a wide berth. Maybe aliens are scared off by the Don’t Mess with Texas attitude. 

1. Texas 
2. Louisiana 
3. New York
4. Maryland
5. Illinois
6. California
7. Alabama
8. Mississippi
9. Georgia
10. North Carolina

From Tic Tac–shaped objects flying over New York to swirling light balls in California, UFO sightings happen all over the country. This chart shows how many UFO sightings were reported in each state, how many sightings there were per 100,000 people, and the overall state rankings of where you’re most likely to spot a UFO.

If your idea of a UFO sighting comes from The X-Files or Doctor Who, you might expect trails of acidic green blood or alien spaceships cruising above the River Thames. The reality is most UFO sightings are less dramatic, such as a strange aircraft or odd light formations descending slowly into a forest.  

Planets are also sometimes mistaken for UFOs. You can get to know the stars and planets with apps like Sky Map, NASA, or Star Walk 2 so you don’t file a report on Venus. Another common error is mistaking a Starlink satellite chain for a UFO. Keep up on Starlink launches by checking out the satellite launch schedule, so you don’t make these newbie mistakes. 

What we do know is that UFO sightings are more frequent up north and during the warmer months. So pull out the lawn chairs, grab a friend and some cold drinks, and get to know the world at night. You might be surprised at what you see. The sky’s the limit!

To highlight the states with the most UFO sightings, we sourced data from the National UFO Reporting Center. Then, using state population data, we ranked each state based on the number of UFO sightings per 100,000 people from January 2019 to June 2020.