Many Americans think heaven or hell follows death
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026, 44% of Americans said people go to designated afterlives, such as heaven or hell, after death.
About a quarter said people cease to exist (24%). Smaller shares said souls all go to the same place, people are reincarnated, or something else happens (11% each).
Topline distribution
44% of Americans say people go to designated afterlives such as heaven or hell after death.
What do you believe happens after death?
n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | beliefs |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
What do you believe happens after death?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.