They walk among us – 20% believe aliens really exist
The Reuters Ipsos poll of 23,000 adults in 22 countries showed that more than 40% of people from India and China believe that aliens walk among us disguised as humans, while those least likely to believe in this are from Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands (8% each).
However, the majority of people polled, or 80%, don’t believe aliens are in our midst.
“It would appear that there’s a modest correlation between the most populated countries and those more likely to indicate there may be aliens disguised amongst them compared with those countries with the smaller populations,” said John Wright, senior vice president of market research firm Ipsos.
“Maybe it’s a simple case that in a less populated country you are more likely to know your next door neighbour better,” he said.
More men than women – 22% versus 17% – believe that alien beings are on earth.
Most of those believers are under the age of 35, and across all income classes, the survey showed. Of those who do not believe, most are women.
Last week, A Jordanian local newspaper’s April Fool’s Day chronicling a late-night visit by 10ft aliens in flying saucers sparked public panic and almost led to a town’s emergency evacuation.
The Al Ghad newspaper published a front-page article about the fake UFO landing near the desert town of Jafr.
The paper said communication networks went down and frightened townspeople fled into the streets.
Jafr’s mayor Mohammed Mleihan sent security authorities in search of the aliens.
Moussa Barhoumeh, Al Ghad’s managing editor, said the newspaper “meant to entertain, not scare people”.
