If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky over Lake Murray and wondered what might be out there, a new study suggests South Carolina is among the more active states for reported alien encounters.
According to research by Canada Sports Betting (CSB), South Carolina ranks 14th in the nation for reported alien abduction odds. The analysis, based on data from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) from 2020 through 2024, estimates that a South Carolina resident has a 1-in-403,588 chance of filing a report flagged as an alleged alien abduction over a five-year period.
The study found South Carolina recorded 14 abduction-flagged reports out of 294 total UFO sightings during the five-year period, equating to 2.48 flagged reports per million residents. The state ranked ahead of every other Southeastern state, including Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.
Interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) remains high following a February 2023 incident in which a U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter shot down an unidentified object off the South Carolina coast. The incident was one of four unidentified objects the U.S. military downed during an eight-day span.
The rankings coincide with World UFO Day, observed annually on July 2, and renewed public interest in the topic through documentaries and films exploring unidentified aerial phenomena.
While the study presents the statistics in a lighthearted manner, the figures are based on self-reported submissions to the National UFO Reporting Center and do not verify that reported sightings or alleged abductions actually occurred.
Photo from Canada Sports Betting (CSB)
