With Halloween just around the corner, the season for all things spooky is in full swing, including beliefs in supernatural entities. A recent YouGov survey of American adults unveils intriguing insights into what people believe when it comes to ghosts, demons, vampires, and more.
BELIEF IN THE SUPERNATURAL
More than two in five Americans (43%) believe in the existence of demons, and a similar percentage (41%) hold the same belief about ghosts. Notably, more Americans believe in these entities than those who don’t, with the remainder being uncertain.
However, when it comes to other supernatural beings like werewolves and vampires, belief is less widespread, with only 9% and 8% of respondents, respectively, affirming their existence. Meanwhile, 31% of Americans believe in “other supernatural beings.”
GENDER AND EDUCATION INFLUENCE
Women consistently show a higher tendency to believe in the existence of ghosts, regardless of their education level. For instance, among women with a high school education, 48% believe in ghosts, while only 27% of similarly educated men do. This pattern persists even among those with a four-year degree, with 50% of women believing in ghosts compared to 34% of similarly educated men.
Regarding demons, there’s less disparity between men and women of the same education level. About half (49%) of women with a high school education think demons exist, whereas 32% of men with the same level of education share this belief. Among those with a four-year degree, 45% of women and 42% of men believe in demons.
POLITICAL DIVIDE ON DEMONS
While beliefs in ghosts remain consistent across political parties, there is a political divide when it comes to demons. Approximately 51% of Republicans, 46% of Independents, and only 34% of Democrats believe in the existence of demons. These results show a slight change from a 2019 YouGov poll, in which 54% of Republicans and 37% of Democrats believed in demons.
PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH THE SUPERNATURAL
About 20% of Americans claim to have personally encountered a ghost, while a much smaller percentage have reported encounters with demons (11%), werewolves (4%), or vampires (3%). Moreover, 11% have encountered other types of supernatural beings.
The survey also reveals that women (25%) are more likely than men (16%) to report personal encounters with ghosts. Younger Americans under 30 (27%) are more likely to claim such experiences compared to older age groups.
This survey paints a fascinating picture of the diverse beliefs and personal experiences Americans have regarding the supernatural, just in time for the spookiest season of the year.
