As this fall's spooky season was beginning, a new YouGov poll asked Americans about their paranormal experiences. Most Americans say they’ve had at least one paranormal experience, and many believe that they personally have a paranormal ability.

60% of Americans say they have had at least one of 13 paranormal experiences, down slightly from 67% in October 2022. The most common paranormal events Americans say they have experienced — among the 13 asked about — are feeling a presence or unknown energy (35%), smelling an unexplained odor (32%), hearing an unexplained sound or music (31%), hearing the voice of someone who wasn’t there (26%), and feeling an unexplained change in temperature (26%).

Not many Americans say they have seen a demon (7%), seen unexplained smoke (9%), or seen an angel (10%).

Many Americans say they have personally experienced a paranormal event

Some people have experiences that they believe are paranormal, or beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Have you personally ever experienced any of the following paranormal events? (% of U.S. adult citizens who say yes)

Note: Responses of "no" and "not sure" are not shown.

18% of Americans say they have lived in a house that they thought was haunted. People who believe they have lived in a haunted house are more likely than those who haven’t to say they’ve had a variety of paranormal encounters. Majorities of Americans who have lived in a house that they think was haunted say they’ve felt a presence or unknown energy (71%), heard an unexplained sound or music (62%), smelled an unexplained odor (58%), heard the voice of someone who wasn’t there (56%), and felt an unexplained change in temperature (56%).

People who have lived in a house they thought was haunted are more likely than those who haven't to say they've experienced many paranormal events

Some people have experiences that they believe are paranormal, or beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Have you personally ever experienced any of the following paranormal events? (% of U.S. adult citizens who say yes)

Do Americans believe their paranormal encounters are truly supernatural? Among those who have experienced something paranormal, 33% think it’s more likely that their experience has a scientific explanation they aren’t aware of. About as many (35%) think it’s more likely that these occurrences were otherworldly or supernatural. Among people who say they have experienced the paranormal, men are more likely than women to say their paranormal experience likely had a scientific explanation (38% vs. 28%).

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