UFO Hotspots Across The US & CA, According to Data Reports

It’s that time of year again, when your calendar fills up with all things eerie and supernatural. From pumpkin patches and spine-chilling haunted house tours to encounters with ghouls and UFO sightings, there's only one name for it—spooky season! 

Each year, countless UFO sightings are reported across the country. While some can be explained as hoaxes or misidentifications, others remain chillingly mysterious. In the spirit of spooky season, we took a deep dive into the data to find out where you're most likely to encounter a UFO across the US and Canada. Using data from the National UFO Reporting Center, along with digital media reports, we identified the states, provinces, and territories to keep an eye on this year. Stay vigilant—spooky surprises might be closer than you think. 

US Key Findings:

• California is the UFO capital in the US  (1 for every 1,075 people) while Washington is the 2nd most likely state you’ll spot a UFO (1 for every 1,093 people)
• Louisiana is the state you’re least likely to see a UFO, at 1 per 3,815 people
• Nevada, home to Area 51, ranked in 10th place (1 per 1,740)

CA Key Findings:

• Ontario is the UFO capital in Canada, with total sightings of 1 per 677 people, while Alberta is the 2nd most likely province/territory you’ll spot a UFO (1 for every 700 people)
• Newfoundland and Labrador is the province/territory you’re least likely to see a UFO, at 1 for every 8,692 people

UFO Hotspots Across America: 

Let’s kick off our spooky tour with California recognized as the UFO capital of America, with 36,286 reported sightings since 1974. Not only is it home to the infamous E.T. movie, but it’s also now recognized as the ultimate UFO hotspot. Many residents have reported seeing mysterious ‘flying objects’ with ‘three orange-like lights’ hovering above their homes. With such numbers, California's UFO sightings per person come to 1,075, making it a prime spot for extraterrestrial encounters.

Next on the list is Washington, recognized as the UFO capital of America, with 7,125 reported sightings since 1974. Whether you're into the supernatural or not, there's no denying that Washington is home to some seriously spooky spots. From eerie ghost towns to haunted cemeteries—and a UFO sighting rate of 1 per 1,093 people—this state is bound to give you chills. 

In third spot is Florida, with over 11,000 UFO sightings reported over the years—roughly1,144 for every 1 person. 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 Oregon with 1 UFO sighting per 1,156 people, and New York (1 per 1,301).

So, where can you live if you'd rather avoid UFO encounters altogether? If strange flying objects in the sky aren’t your idea of Halloween fun, North Dakota might be your ideal spot. With just 282 reported sightings—about 0.0004 per capita—it has the fewest UFO encounters in the country. If you're worried about alien abductions, rest assured, North Dakota is likely your safest bet! 

UFO Hotspots Across Canada: 

In the true spirit of spooky season, let’s journey to the Great White North and explore the provinces and territories where you're most likely to experience a UFO encounter. 

From sightings of "orbs with twenty lights" and "black triangles moving fast" to mysterious "spherical objects," Ontario has earned the title of UFO Capital of Canada. With 21,884 reported encounters—Ontario leads the country in alleged UFO sightings. This brings the total to 1 UFO per 667 people, making it a hotspot for extraterrestrial activity in Canada. 

Coming in second as Canada's next UFO hotspot is Alberta, where residents have reported 624 UFO sightings over the years. With a number of 1 UFO per 700 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.

In third place is British Columbia. With over 7,000 reported sightings, the province has captured the imaginations of locals and UFO 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 757 people, making British Columbia a notable destination for alien life. 

Finishing off the top five UFO hotspots is Manitoba (1 per 943) and Quebec (1 per 1,080).

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 60 sightings since 1974. With a mere 1 UFO per 8,692 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. 

Summary:

Whether you’re an avid stargazer or a nighttime adventurer, you never know when an extraterrestrial in a big green spaceship might decide to make a surprise visit. Let the spine-tingling thrill of the unknown heighten your Halloween excitement this year, as we celebrate the spookiest time of year.

Methodology:

By sifted 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.

Fair Use:

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.