MISSISSIPPI — As revelers ring in the New Year and scan the skies for fireworks, Mississippians hoping to spot something more otherworldly may want to temper their expectations.
A new study ranks Mississippi among the worst states in the nation for reported UFO sightings, with just 7.82 sightings per 1 million residents each year. The analysis, conducted by social casino website McLuck, examined reports filed with the National UFO Reporting Center between 2020 and 2024.
Full disclosure: Last year a different company put out a different study based on different criteria that said we’re the 4th most likely to see a UFO, so really, is any of this for anything more than fun?
By contrast, Vermont tops the list as the state where residents are most likely to report seeing a UFO, averaging 33 sightings per 1 million residents annually. New Hampshire and Idaho followed closely behind, with more than 31 sightings per 1 million residents each year.
Mississippi ranked 48th out of 50 states, with 115 reported sightings over the five-year period. October was the most common month for sightings in the state, while 9 p.m. was the most frequent time of day, according to the study.
It should be noted that Mississippi had a very noteworthy sighting that has been discussed at length in Pascagoula in 1973.
Texas, despite having one of the highest total numbers of reported sightings, ranked last overall when population was taken into account, with just 7.01 sightings per 1 million residents annually.
In a release sent Tuesday, McLuck researchers calculated sightings per capita to better reflect how likely residents are to report unexplained objects in the sky, rather than simply tallying raw numbers. They also analyzed patterns by month and time of day.
Across much of the country, summer evenings appear to offer the best chance of spotting a UFO. August was the most common month for sightings in four of the top five states, and 9 p.m. emerged as the most frequent time nationwide.
Vermont led all states with 107 sightings reported from 2020 to 2024. August accounted for the largest share, and nearly a quarter of all reports in the state occurred around 9 p.m. New Hampshire posted similar trends, with August and early nighttime hours leading the way.
Idaho, Maine and Oregon rounded out the top five. Idaho saw a sharp increase in reports from 2023 to 2024, while Maine experienced a 29% year-over-year rise during the same period. Oregon, meanwhile, recorded a decline in sightings last year despite ranking high overall.
Joerg Nottebaum, a spokesperson for McLuck, said seasonal and behavioral factors likely play a role in the trends.
“Our study reveals the states with the highest number of UFO sightings over five years, finding that the summer months are the best time of year to spot one,” Nottebaum said. “This is probably due to the lighter evenings and Americans spending more time outside, which could increase their chances of spotting these phenomena.”
Interest in UFOs remains strong nationwide. More than 60% of Americans believe the U.S. government is hiding information about UFOs and extraterrestrial life, according to a recent YouGov survey cited by McLuck.
While Mississippi may not be a hotspot for reported sightings, researchers note that location, weather patterns and population density all influence reporting rates. For hopeful skywatchers in the Magnolia State, the study suggests that fall evenings — particularly in October — may offer the best chance, however slim, of spotting something unexplained.
For those determined to improve their odds this New Year’s, the data point north — preferably toward Vermont — and suggest stepping outside just after dark, eyes on the sky.
This study analyzes reports submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, to identify which US states have the highest number of UFO sightings. The total number of yearly sightings per 1 million residents was then calculated for each US state to determine a fairer ranking.
In addition, the months and hours of the day where UFO sightings are most likely to occur, both at state and national levels.
The study also highlights the states that experienced the largest increase in UFO sightings in 2024 compared to 2023.
