# Many Americans think heaven or hell follows death

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/many-americans-think-heaven-or-hell-follows-death/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

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

What do you believe happens after death?

44% of Americans say people go to designated afterlives such as heaven or hell after death.

- We go to designated after lives (heaven or hell): 43.7%
- We cease to exist: 24.0%
- Our souls all go to the same place: 11.0%
- Other: 10.8%
- We are reincarnated: 10.6%

## 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: 2026-05-11 → 2026-05-11
- 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

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.37](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.37)

## Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.37](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.37)