Manifestation Statistics in the US: 2026 Data on Belief
Table of Contents
Manifestation — the belief that you can attract success into your life through positive thinking, visualisation and “the law of attraction” — has become one of the defining spiritual ideas of the social-media age. Peer-reviewed research now finds that over a third of Americans endorse it, and its foundational book, The Secret, has sold tens of millions of copies. This guide compiles the verified US statistics from academic research and reputable reporting.
US manifestation statistics at a glance
- Over a third of participants endorsed manifestation beliefs in a peer-reviewed study of US adults. (Dixon, Hornsey & Hartley, 2025)
- The Secret (2006) has sold around 30 million copies and been translated into 50+ languages. (Dixon et al., 2025)
- Videos tagged #manifestation on TikTok had been viewed 34.6 billion times by May 2023. (Dixon et al., 2025)
- Manifestation believers perceived themselves as more successful and had stronger success aspirations. (Dixon et al., 2025)
- But they were also more likely to be drawn to risky investments and to have experienced bankruptcy. (Dixon et al., 2025)
- Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, an ancestor of the genre, had sold about 100 million copies by 2015. (reported)
- There is no scientific evidence for the law of attraction. (scientific consensus)
How many Americans believe in manifestation?
The most rigorous data comes from a 2025 study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, in which researchers developed and validated a “Manifestation Scale.” Across three studies with a combined 1,023 US participants, more than a third endorsed manifestation beliefs — the idea that they can cosmically attract success through positive self-talk, visualisation and symbolic action (Dixon, Hornsey & Hartley, 2025). It is one of the first serious attempts to measure a belief system that, despite its cultural reach, had received little academic attention.
The reach of “The Secret”
Manifestation’s modern popularity is usually traced to Rhonda Byrne’s 2006 book and film The Secret, which reframed the century-old “law of attraction” for a mass audience. It has sold around 30 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages (Dixon et al., 2025). The idea’s lineage runs back further still — Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (1937), an early law-of-attraction text, had sold roughly 100 million copies by 2015 (reported).
Looking for Clarity?
Get a free tarot reading in a safe, supportive space. Ask unlimited questions and receive instant insights tailored to you. Your journey is unique — get the answers you need.
Learn MoreA social-media phenomenon
Manifestation has found an enormous audience online: videos tagged #manifestation on TikTok had been viewed 34.6 billion times by May 2023, and the figure has continued to climb since (Dixon et al., 2025). This visibility, concentrated among younger users, is a major driver of the belief’s current prominence.
What research says about believers
The same study found a double-edged picture. People who scored higher on the Manifestation Scale perceived themselves as more successful, had stronger aspirations and believed they were more likely to achieve future success. But they were also more likely to be drawn to risky investments, to believe they could achieve unlikely success quickly, and to have experienced bankruptcy (Dixon et al., 2025) — suggesting the belief can encourage over-optimism about financial risk. There is no scientific evidence that thoughts can “attract” outcomes; the law of attraction is considered pseudoscience.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of Americans believe in manifestation?
In a peer-reviewed study of US adults, over a third endorsed manifestation beliefs (Dixon, Hornsey & Hartley, 2025).
How many copies has The Secret sold?
Around 30 million, and it has been translated into more than 50 languages (Dixon et al., 2025).
Is there any science behind the law of attraction?
No. It is considered pseudoscience, and research links stronger manifestation belief to riskier financial behaviour (Dixon et al., 2025).
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 source, listed below, and the page is reviewed twice a year.
Related guides
Sources & references
- Dixon, Hornsey & Hartley — “‘The Secret’ to Success? The Psychology of Belief in Manifestation,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2025)
- PositivePsychology.com — summary of manifestation research and The Secret’s reach (TikTok figures)
- Law of Attraction (New Thought) — background and Think and Grow Rich sales
Curious about what lies ahead?
Get a free AI tarot reading and explore guidance designed just for you. Discover the messages the cards have to share and gain insight into your path.
Learn More
