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As World Space Week (October 4–10) coincides with the thrills of spooky season, it’s the perfect time to wonder: what are the odds of a real close encounter?
Every year, thousands of UFO sightings are reported throughout the U.S. and Canada. While many are written off as hoaxes or simple misidentifications, some defy explanation. We dug into data from the National UFO Reporting Center, along with digital media coverage, to spotlight the states, provinces, and territories where unexplained aerial phenomena are most commonly reported, just in time for the eeriest month of the year.
Let’s kick off our alien tour with Washington recognized as the UFO capital of America, with 7,625 reported sightings since 1974. Many residents have reported seeing mysterious ‘flying cylinders’ with ‘beaming lights’ hovering above their homes. With such numbers, Washington’s UFO sightings per person come to 1,021, making it a prime spot for extraterrestrial activity to take place.
Next on the list is Oregon, recognized as the 2nd UFO capital of America, with 3,838 reported sightings since 1974. Whether you're into the supernatural or not, there's no denying that Oregon is home to some seriously spooky spots. From eerie ghost towns to haunted cemeteries, and a UFO sighting rate of 1 per 1,105 people - this state is an alien’s paradise.
In third spot is Florida, with 20,078 UFO sightings reported over the years - roughly 1,108 for every 1 person. So your chances of spotting a mysterious object in the sky are pretty high here. Floridians are convinced they've encountered UFOs, with one witness describing a "white, tic-tac-shaped object in the sky" and another reporting a "silver orb flying overhead." The Sunshine State is clearly no stranger to strange, unexplained phenomena.
Rounding off our top five, we have Delaware with 1 UFO sighting per 1,178 people, and New York (1 per 1,236).
So, where can you live if you'd rather avoid UFO encounters altogether? If strange flying objects in the sky and potential alien abduction aren’t your idea of fun, Louisiana might be your ideal spot. With 1,281 reported sightings - about 3,583 per 1 person - it has the fewest UFO encounters in the country. If you're scared of UFOs, rest assured, Louisiana is likely your safest bet!
Let’s journey to the Great White North and explore the provinces and territories where you're most likely to experience a UFO encounter and alien abduction.
Coming in as Canada's UFO hotspot is Alberta, where residents have reported 770 UFO sightings over the years. With a number of 1 UFO per 568 people, Alberta has become a quieter but still significant part of the country's UFO story. Alberta’s vast open landscapes and expansive skies create the perfect backdrop for mysterious phenomena, adding a touch of the unknown to the province.
From sightings of "orbs with twenty lights" and "black triangles moving fast" to mysterious "spherical objects," Ontario has earned the title of the 2nd UFO hotspot of Canada. With 22,860 reported encounters - Ontario leads the country in alleged UFO sightings. This brings the total to 1 UFO per 639 people, making it a prime spot for spotting UFOs in Canada.
In third place is British Columbia. With 7,927 reported sightings, the province has captured the imaginations of locals and alien enthusiasts alike. Witnesses have described seeing everything from glowing "green UFOs" streaking across the sky to mysterious hovering "orbs." These sightings amount to 1 per 742 people, making British Columbia a notable destination for alien life.
Finishing off the top five UFO hotspots is Manitoba (1 per 853) and Quebec (1 per 527).
If you're hoping to avoid UFOs entirely, Newfoundland and Labrador is the place to be. Ranking dead last on the list, this remote territory has reported only 70 sightings since 1974. With a mere 1 UFO per 7,451 people, NL has much to offer, but apparently, very few visits from UFOs. For those who prefer their stargazing to remain purely terrestrial, Newfoundland and Labrador have it covered.
What does this mean on a national scale? With a total of 176,616 UFO sightings reported across the U.S., the chances of UFO sightings might be higher than you would assume. We’ve looked into the odds of spotting a UFO, and in America it is approximately 1 in 1,890 (0.0529%).
Canada on the other hand, has had 34,595 reported UFO sightings across the country, which means statistically your chances of being taken by aliens are 1 in 1,156 (0.0865%). Unfortunately, Canadians are more at risk being in the presence of a UFO, and if you reside in any of the top UFO hot spot areas, then your chances are even higher! So next time you see something strange in the sky, don’t dismiss it – as you never know when you’re about to come head-to-head with the extra-terrestrial kind.
Whether you’re an avid stargazer or a night-time adventurer, you never know when an extra-terrestrial in a big green spaceship might decide to make a surprise visit. Let the spine-tingling thrill of the unknown heighten your excitement this year and find the best real money online casinos to play your favourite UFO and alien themed slot games. Enjoy titles like UFO Frenzy from Gameplay Interactive or Journey to Mars by Relax Gaming with Casino.ca’s impartial reviews of Canada’s top-rated online casinos.
Data has been updated and is correct as of September 26th 2025.
By sifting through 149,000 sighting entries on the National UFO Reporting Center, combined with scraping social media for sighting details. My client then worked out the UFO sightings per capita for both U.S. and Canada, which allowed them to provide a ranking.
Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.
