Within GEIPAN
Understanding GEIPAN's Public UFO Case Statistics
Breaks down the percentages of A, B, C, and D cases in GEIPAN's published statistics and their significance.
On this page
- Distribution of classifications
- Dynamic versus official statistics
- Insights for UFO research
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Introduction
GEIPAN’s public statistics are one of the most distinctive features of any government-linked UFO database. Rather than simply listing sightings, the French agency publishes outcome data showing how reported phenomena are classified after review. The figures reveal that most investigated cases eventually receive ordinary explanations, a substantial share cannot be assessed because the evidence is too limited, and only a small minority remain unexplained after investigation. These statistics matter because they provide a measurable picture of case resolution rather than relying on anecdotal accounts or selective examples. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Within GEIPAN’s classification system, cases are assigned to categories A, B, C or D. The published statistics allow researchers and the public to see how those categories are distributed across thousands of reports and how that distribution changes as older cases are re-examined and new reports enter the database. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Distribution of Classifications
GEIPAN’s current public statistics are presented as “dynamic” figures calculated from all classified cases published on its website. As of April 2026, the database reported 3,351 classified cases distributed as follows: approximately 27.8% Category A, 38.8% Category B, 30.3% Category C, and 3.2% Category D. In absolute terms, this represented 932 A cases, 1,299 B cases, 1,014 C cases and 106 D cases. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
The pattern is significant because it shows that:
- A cases are fully identified phenomena.
- B cases are probably identified phenomena. [connexionfrance.com]connexionfrance.cominside frances ufo bureau we explain what people have seenInside France's 'UFO Bureau': 'we explain what people…7 Feb 2023 — B (1,197 or 40.2%) are phenomena that are most probably identified…
- C cases lack sufficient information for a reliable conclusion.
- D cases remain unexplained after investigation. Geipan [cnes-geipan.fr]cnes-geipan.frGeipanMission & Geipan | GEIPANAround 7 % of the sightings remain unexplained. Over the last decade, the rate of unexplained cases droppe…
Combining A and B categories shows that roughly two-thirds of classified reports ultimately receive either a confirmed or probable explanation. The largest identified sources include astronomical objects, aircraft, satellites, balloons, atmospheric effects and perception errors. GEIPAN has repeatedly highlighted that misidentification and observational mistakes account for a large proportion of resolved cases. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
The remaining third is largely composed of Category C reports. These are not mysteries in the same sense as D cases; instead, they are investigations that cannot reach a conclusion because the available information is incomplete, contradictory or too limited for analysis. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Dynamic Versus Official Statistics
One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of GEIPAN’s numbers is that the published percentages are not fixed historical totals. Since 2016, the organisation has used dynamic statistics that are recalculated whenever cases are added, revised or reclassified. Older cases can move between categories if new evidence emerges or if modern analytical tools provide a better explanation. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
This means readers may encounter different percentages in publications from different years. For example, media reports and GEIPAN summaries from the early 2020s often cited approximately 64% of cases as A or B, around 32–33% as C, and about 3% as D. More recent dynamic statistics show a very similar overall pattern, even though the exact percentages have shifted as additional files were processed. [Portal.hr]portal.hrUFO: Out of 3037 cases, only about a hundred are unsolvedFeb 18, 2024 — Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, Geipan has examined 3037… [2connexionfrance]connexionfrance.cominside frances ufo bureau we explain what people have seenInside France's 'UFO Bureau': 'we explain what people…7 Feb 2023 — B (1,197 or 40.2%) are phenomena that are most probably identified…
GEIPAN also notes that unexplained-case rates have declined over time. According to the agency, the proportion of unexplained cases has fallen in the last decade, in part because of stricter standards for assigning D classifications, improved digital investigative tools and the increasing volume of reports involving easily identifiable objects such as satellites and aircraft. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
A notable example of this reassessment process occurred when dozens of previously unexplained cases were re-examined and subsequently explained through renewed investigation. This illustrates why the database should be viewed as an evolving catalogue rather than a static archive. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Why the Small D Percentage Attracts Attention
The approximately 3% of cases classified as D receive disproportionate public attention because they represent reports that remain unexplained after investigation rather than merely lacking information. However, GEIPAN emphasises that “unexplained” does not mean proof of an extraordinary cause. It means that available hypotheses do not adequately account for the observation given the evidence currently available. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Since 2008, GEIPAN has further divided these cases into D1 and D2 categories. D1 cases involve unexplained observations with moderate consistency, while D2 cases involve stronger evidence, such as multiple independent witnesses or supporting physical documentation. This distinction was introduced to separate genuinely well-documented anomalies from weaker unresolved reports. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
The small size of the D category is often interpreted in two different ways:
- Skeptically minded researchers note that the overwhelming majority of cases are either explained or too poorly documented to analyse.
- UFO researchers interested in anomalies focus on the fact that a persistent minority of cases remain unresolved despite investigation. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
The statistics themselves do not resolve that debate, but they provide a transparent numerical framework within which it can be discussed.
Insights for UFO Research
GEIPAN’s outcome statistics are valuable because they quantify uncertainty rather than hiding it. Instead of presenting all reports as equally significant, the database separates identified cases, probable identifications, insufficient-data cases and unresolved investigations. This allows researchers to analyse the characteristics of each category independently. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
Several broader lessons emerge from the published figures:
- Most reported aerial anomalies eventually receive conventional explanations.
- Lack of information is a major obstacle, accounting for roughly one-third of classified cases.
- Truly unexplained cases are uncommon but persistent.
- Reclassification can reduce the number of unexplained cases as investigative methods improve. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
For anyone using UFO report databases and catalogues, these statistics demonstrate why outcome categories matter as much as the raw number of reports. A database containing thousands of sightings may appear impressive, but GEIPAN’s published figures show that the evidential value of those sightings varies dramatically depending on whether they are identified, probably identified, insufficiently documented or still unexplained after investigation. [Geipan]uapedia.aiGEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi…
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Endnotes
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Source: portal.hr
Link: https://www.portal.hr/en/novosti/hr/78513-francuski-znanstvenici-demistificiraju-fenomen-nlo-aSource snippet
UFO: Out of 3037 cases, only about a hundred are unsolvedFeb 18, 2024 — Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, Geipan has examined 3037...
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Source: connexionfrance.com
Title: inside frances ufo bureau we explain what people have seen
Link: https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/inside-frances-ufo-bureau-we-explain-what-people-have-seen/189460Source snippet
Inside France's 'UFO Bureau': 'we explain what people...7 Feb 2023 — B (1,197 or 40.2%) are phenomena that are most probably identified...
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Source: skepticalinquirer.org
Link: https://skepticalinquirer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2009/01/p47.pdf?ref=thegalacticmind.comSource snippet
An Assessment of Thirty Years of Official Studies in FranceA detailed, critical re-examination of the main cases in three decades of 'off...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn2xTieploUSource snippet
The UFO Office • FRANCE 24...
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Source: cnes-geipan.fr
Link: https://www.cnes-geipan.fr/en/statsSource snippet
GeipanStatisticsSince 2016 the GEIPAN uses "dynamic" statistics. They are calculated with the data related to classified cases that are p...
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Source: cnes-geipan.fr
Link: https://www.cnes-geipan.fr/en/missions-methodes-et-resultatsSource snippet
GeipanMission & Geipan | GEIPANAround 7 % of the sightings remain unexplained. Over the last decade, the rate of unexplained cases droppe...
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Source: cnes-geipan.fr
Link: https://www.cnes-geipan.fr/en/node/412Source snippet
· Classification B: Phenomenon probably identified after investigation. · Classification C:...Read more...
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Source: cnes-geipan.fr
Link: https://www.cnes-geipan.fr/en/node/58787Source snippet
GeipanClassificationA more detailed classification (A/B/C/D1/D2) has been used by the GEIPAN. It is based on 2 main criteria: the weirdne...
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Source: Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEIPANSource snippet
GEIPANGEIPAN is clearly focused on UFO study, but UAP (PAN in French) is meant to cover a much broader area than UFO (OVNI in French)...
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Source: cnes.fr
Link: https://cnes.fr/en/projects/geipanSource snippet
7 Jul 2025 — Key figures · 24.6% of phenomena clearly identified · 39.7% of phenomena probably identified · 32.4% of phenomena unidentifi...
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Source: researchgate.net
Title: (PDF) A global picture of unidentified anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376891986_A_global_picture_of_unidentified_anomalous_phenomena_Towards_a_cross-cultural_understanding_of_a_potentially_universal_issueSource snippet
GEIPAN (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Study & Information Group), with over 2,900. cases investigated, of which 99 are deemed highly stra...
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Source: academieairespace.com
Title: GEIPA N studies UAPs/UFOs
Link: https://academieairespace.com/event/geipan-studies-uaps-ufos/?lang=enSource snippet
GEIPAN studies UAPs/UFOs - AAEGEIPAN studies aerospace observations, unexplained phenomena observed in the sky, that have been reported t...
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Source: uapedia.ai
Link: https://uapedia.ai/wiki/geipan-frances-official-uap-unit/Source snippet
GEIPAN: France's Official UAP UnitThe agency uses a structured classification system (A/B/C/D1/D2) based on weirdness and consistency, wi...
Additional References
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/TheFrenchHistoryPodcast/posts/a-drawing-from-the-files-at-the-french-ufo-department/1337099231754482/Source snippet
A drawing from the files at the French UFO departmentThe case has been classified as a 'Class D' case, which are the unexplained cases in...
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Source: strangemag.com
Link: https://www.strangemag.com/recentadditions/onlinefrenchufoarchive.htmlSource snippet
Online French UFO ArchiveThe collation of the sightings and field investigations was the longtime work of the CNES's UFO unit GEIPAN (lat...
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Source: 3af.fr
Link: https://www.3af.fr/en/groupe/sigma2-unidentified-aerospace-phenomena-43Source snippet
SIGMA2 (Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena)A number of cases were examined in greater depth, both from the GEIPAN database and from foreign...
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Source: en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br
Link: https://en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/desde-os-anos-1970-a-franca-mantem-um-arquivo-oficial-que-investigou-e-catalogou-centenas-de-encontros-com-ovnis-tornou-relatorios-publicos-vml97/Source snippet
people know, but since the 1970s, France has...Feb 11, 2026 — GEIPAN, an agency of CNES (France), has investigated and published hundred...
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Source: jmss.org
Link: https://jmss.org/article/download/74704/55613/225743Source snippet
velopments and classified programs by US entities,” though such an explanation.Read more...
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Source: cnes-geipan.fr
Title: Each UAP is located at the centroid of the commune where the UAP was.Read more
Link: https://www.cnes-geipan.fr/sites/default/files/2015-09-01_Spatial_Point_Pattern_Analysis_of_the_Unidentified.pdfSource snippet
Spatial Point Pattern Analysis of the Unidentified Aerial...by T Laurent · 2015 · Cited by 2 — Figure 3: Locations of the UAPs according...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: til that france has a dedicated unit to finding
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1qa0lyb/til_that_france_has_a_dedicated_unit_to_finding/Source snippet
UFO's. The...Perfectly identified: 27.5% (904 cases) · Probably identified: 38.7% (1273 cases) · Unidentified, despite investigation: 3...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/15w9ndj/why_is_no_one_talking_about_the_french_ufo/Source snippet
udies carried out by the group during the first part of 1978.Read more...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/southwestfrance/posts/1342464920438589/Source snippet
out 25% of these cases remain unexplained." •. "The full report and...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/bbcindia/posts/american-authorities-have-examined-around-800-mysterious-reports-of-unidentified/6608211255889848/Source snippet
on the cases in recent years.... GEIPAN Data bases.Read more...
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