It’s true that near-death experiences aren’t common, and that they’re often misunderstood by the general public. They’re misunderstood by quite a few members of the science community too, for that matter. But just uncommon are they, really? What percentage of the population has had an NDE in the past?
Here’s the short answer: somewhere between 4% and 10% of the general population of Earth have had a near-death experience. That sounds like a pretty small number, until you stop to realize that there are more than eight billion people alive on Earth today. So we’re talking about anywhere from 320 million to 800 million people.
For context, the United States has a total population of just over 340.1 million people. So even by conservative estimates, you could nearly populate the whole of the United States just with people who’ve had near-death experiences.
Learn More: What causes near-death experiences, and who has them?
What percentage of the population has had an NDE? Here’s what research tells us
There have been a number of studies and polls conducted through the years that attempted to measure what percentage of the population has had an NDE. The earliest national estimate came to us from famed American pollster George Gallup Jr., whose father invented the famous Gallup polls. Gallup’s NDE-related survey concluded that approximately 5% of U.S. adults reported having had near-death experiences.
The first European study, conducted in Germany, reported that approximately 4% of respondents had had an NDE, closely aligning with Gallup’s estimates and suggesting similar prevalence across Western population.
A more recent multinational survey looked at 1,034 participants from 35 countries. And when using the Greyson NDE scale to screen their reports, they found that approximately 10% of participants had met the scale’s threshold for an NDE.
Studies that zero in more closely on incidents rather than population often find even larger numbers. For instance, some studies have found that 10% to 20% of resuscitated patients reported having an NDE. Sampling, timing, and how rigidly various terms are defined have significant impacts on results.
Related: IANDS Q&A: Can near-death experiences be scientifically explained?
You can play a major role in NDE research (even if you’ve never had one)
There are still a great many questions NDE researchers hope to unravel regarding the mysteries of near-death experiences. But with help from people like you, we can continue pressing for these essential answers involving the mental and physical health, the afterlife, and human consciousness.
If you’ve had an NDE, or if you know someone who has, please consider submitting your NDE story. You or an experiencer you know can submit stories free of charge and stay completely anonymous to researchers. You might also consider participating in an NDE research study and contributing more directly to the advancement of near-death studies.
Looking for more ways to help? Consider making a tax-deductible donation to IANDS, or join IANDS as a member to enjoy a plethora of members-only benefits. And please don’t forget to visit our IANDS Extraordinary Shop, too!
