Ghost & Paranormal Belief Statistics UK: 2026 Data

Britain is one of the most secular countries in the world — yet nearly four in ten Britons think ghosts could be real, and a quarter believe they have personally experienced one. Belief in the supernatural quietly outlives belief in traditional religion here, and it varies sharply by gender and even by region. This guide compiles the latest verified UK statistics, drawn primarily from YouGov’s British polling.

How many people in the UK believe in ghosts?

YouGov’s 2025 survey found that 38% of Britons believe ghosts could exist — 12% are sure they do and 26% think they probably do — while a majority (56%) think they probably don’t, including 32% who are certain they don’t (YouGov UK, 2025). That is broadly consistent with a 2014 YouGov poll in which 34% said ghosts exist, suggesting belief has held roughly steady over the decade rather than surging (YouGov UK, 2014).

The British paradox: secular, but not sceptical

What makes the UK distinctive is the gap between religiosity and supernatural belief. Only around 23% of Britons describe themselves as religious, and less than half now identify as Christian — yet belief in ghosts is more widespread than belief in a Creator (YouGov UK). British “atheism”, in other words, is often not the strictly scientific kind: large numbers of people who have left organised religion still hold on to ghosts, fate and an afterlife.

Other supernatural beings: witches, Nessie and more

Ghosts are the most widely believed supernatural being in Britain, but not the only one. YouGov’s 2025 poll found 21% think witches may exist, 12% are open to the Loch Ness Monster existing (rising to 16% among Scots), and around 8% each believe vampires or werewolves could be real. Only 3% of Britons believe all five of these creatures at least probably exist (YouGov UK, 2025).

How many Britons say they’ve experienced a ghost?

Around 25% of Britons think they have personally experienced a ghost, and 9% believe they have communicated with the dead — including 5% who say they have done so more than once (YouGov UK, 2011; YouGov UK, 2014). Roughly 39–40% believe that a house can be haunted by some kind of supernatural presence.

Who believes? Gender, age and region

Gender

The gender gap is stark. Where women are split roughly evenly on whether ghosts may exist, 64% of men say ghosts likely do not — more than twice the share of men who think they could. Women are also far more likely to see something in crystal healing (24% vs 10% of men) (YouGov UK, 2025).

Region

Belief in a personal ghostly experience varies noticeably across the UK’s nations: 15% of Welsh respondents say they have definitely experienced a ghost, compared with just 5% of Scots (YouGov UK, 2011). Younger adults (18–34) tend to be the most likely age group to report paranormal belief.

How the UK compares to the US

Britons are consistently more sceptical about ghosts than Americans. Gallup’s comparable cross-country work put belief in haunted houses at 40% in Britain versus 37% in the US, and comparative surveys by psychologist Christopher French found a wider gap on ghosts specifically — around 36% of Britons versus 53% of Americans (via IFLScience). For the full US picture, see our companion guide.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of British people believe in ghosts?

Around 38% of Britons say ghosts could exist (YouGov UK, 2025) — 12% are sure they do and 26% think they probably do. An earlier poll found 34% believed ghosts exist, so belief has held broadly steady.

How many Britons have experienced a ghost?

About 25% of Britons think they have personally experienced a ghost, and 9% believe they have communicated with the dead, including 5% who say more than once (YouGov UK).

Do more British people believe in ghosts than in God?

In net terms, yes: YouGov has found belief in ghosts to be more prevalent than belief in a Creator, even though only around 23% of Britons describe themselves as religious.

Are young people in the UK more likely to believe in ghosts?

Adults aged 18–34 tend to be the most likely age group to report paranormal belief, and women are markedly more likely to believe than men across every age group.

About this data

Produced by the editorial team at TarotCards.io, home to free tarot readings and astrology guides. Every figure is drawn from a named primary source, listed below, and the page is reviewed twice a year.

Related guides

• Ghost & Haunting Statistics (US)
• Spirituality & New Age Statistics (UK)
• Witchcraft Statistics (UK)

Sources & references

1. YouGov UK — “Ghosts? Magic? Do Britons believe in the supernatural?” (2025)
2. YouGov UK — “‘Ghosts exist’, say 1 in 3 Brits” (haunted houses; communicating with the dead) (2014)
3. YouGov UK — “Ghostly encounter” (personal experiences; regional differences) (2011)
4. YouGov UK — “British people more likely to believe in ghosts than a Creator” (2016)
5. Gallup — “Paranormal Beliefs Come (Super)Naturally to Some” (US / Canada / Great Britain comparison)
6. IFLScience — “Why People Believe In Ghosts” (Prof. Christopher French; US-vs-UK comparison)