Within Monaco
Did Monaco Really Have Europe's Longest UFO Sightings?
The famous 45-minute average rests on only a few self-reported cases, making Monaco's European ranking statistically fragile.
On this page
- Where the ranking originated
- How two or four reports distort an average
- Why reported does not mean confirmed
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Introduction
The claim that Monaco has Europe’s longest UFO sightings—averaging around 45 minutes per event—is genuine in the sense that it appeared in widely circulated media reports. However, it is misleading if interpreted as evidence that Monaco experiences unusually persistent or well-documented unidentified aerial phenomena. The ranking was derived from an extremely small set of self-reported civilian sightings, apparently only four reports at the time of publication, and later versions of the underlying database list only two Monaco reports. That means a single unusually long observation could dramatically alter the national average, making the ranking statistically fragile rather than scientifically meaningful.[Travel Weekly]travelweekly.com.auTravel WeeklyNew study reveals European countries with the longest Alien visits (in case you were wondering) - Travel WeeklyFebruary 4, 2021…
Rather than demonstrating that Monaco is a European hotspot for long-duration UFO encounters, the 45-minute figure has become a useful example of how eye-catching rankings can emerge from tiny datasets, imprecise terminology and repeated media coverage.
Where the 45-minute ranking originated
The statistic entered public circulation in early 2021 through articles reporting research commissioned by the commercial website PsychicWorld. The analysis examined UFO reports submitted from European countries and calculated average sighting duration. According to the published results, Monaco ranked first, with sightings lasting an average of approximately 45 minutes. The articles also stated that Monaco had four “confirmed sightings” and that flying discs were the most commonly reported shape.[com.au]travelweekly.com.auTravel WeeklyNew study reveals European countries with the longest Alien visits (in case you were wondering) - Travel WeeklyFebruary 4, 2021…
Although many news outlets reproduced these rankings, the underlying methodology was never published in sufficient detail to allow independent verification. Critical information was absent, including:
- the complete list of Monaco reports used;
- how durations were extracted or standardised;
- whether duplicate reports were removed;
- whether incomplete duration fields were excluded;
- why reports were described as “confirmed.”
Those omissions matter because the credibility of an average depends heavily on the quality and consistency of the underlying records.
How two or four reports distort an average
The central weakness of the Monaco ranking is its sample size.
Current publicly accessible records in the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) country index list only two Monaco reports, whereas the 2021 ranking referred to four. Neither number provides a statistically meaningful basis for ranking an entire country against the rest of Europe.[nuforc.org]nuforc.orgNUFOR C Reports by LocationNUFOR C Reports by Location
With such a small dataset:
- one exceptionally long observation can dominate the average;
- removing or reclassifying a single report can change the national ranking completely;
- no meaningful distribution can be calculated because there are too few observations.
A simple illustration shows why the figure is unstable. If four reports lasted 5, 10, 20 and 145 minutes, the average would still be exactly 45 minutes. Yet three of the four sightings would have been far shorter than the headline figure. Likewise, if only two reports remained after database updates, the average could shift dramatically depending on which reports were retained.
For larger countries with dozens or hundreds of reports, unusually long sightings have much less influence over the national average. Monaco’s exceptionally small reporting base means the opposite is true.
Why “reported” does not mean “confirmed”
Many articles repeated the phrase “confirmed sightings,” but this wording overstates what civilian reporting databases actually represent.
NUFORC accepts reports submitted voluntarily by witnesses. The organisation explicitly states that publication of a report does not establish that an unidentified craft was objectively verified. Reports are reviewed, obvious hoaxes may be excluded, and modern entries may receive explanatory ratings, but the database remains fundamentally a collection of witness accounts rather than official investigative conclusions.[nuforc.org]nuforc.orgData Bank | NUFORCLatest UFO Sightings…
This distinction is important.
A submitted report confirms only that:
- someone described an unusual observation;
- the report met the database’s publication standards.
It does not confirm that:
- the object was genuinely unidentified after investigation;
- independent witnesses corroborated the event;
- radar, photographs or sensor evidence supported the claim;
- investigators ruled out aircraft, astronomical objects or atmospheric effects.
Consequently, describing Monaco as having four “confirmed UFO sightings” gives readers a stronger impression of evidential certainty than the underlying data justify.
Why the ranking changed over time
One of the strongest reasons to treat the 45-minute claim cautiously is that the underlying numbers appear to have changed.
The 2021 articles consistently referred to four Monaco sightings. The current NUFORC location index lists two. Public documentation does not clearly explain whether reports were:
- removed after review;
- merged as duplicates;
- reassigned geographically;
- excluded because of data quality;
- or affected by later database maintenance.
Without an auditable version of the original dataset, it is impossible to reproduce the published ranking precisely.[nuforc.org]nuforc.orgNUFOR C Reports by LocationNUFOR C Reports by Location
This illustrates a broader problem with rankings built from dynamic databases. When the underlying records change, previously published averages may no longer reflect the available evidence.
Why Monaco ranked so highly despite having almost no cases
The ranking illustrates a common statistical pitfall: averages are sensitive to sample size.
Countries such as Ireland, France and Spain have far larger numbers of reported sightings. Their averages are influenced by many observations spanning different decades, witnesses and circumstances. Monaco, by contrast, contributed only a handful of reports to the analysis.[IOL]iol.co.zaIOLREVEALED: The countries in Europe with the longest alien sightingsIOLREVEALED: The countries in Europe with the longest alien sightings
Because Monaco is one of Europe’s smallest states:
- the absolute number of potential witnesses is tiny;
- even one lengthy observation carries disproportionate statistical weight;
- national comparisons become unstable.
In practical terms, Monaco did not necessarily produce unusually long UFO events. It produced a dataset so small that one or two reports could create an unusually large average.
What the statistic actually tells us
Viewed carefully, the 45-minute figure says more about data interpretation than about UFO activity.
The ranking demonstrates:
- how averages can mislead when sample sizes are extremely small;
- why commercial rankings should be examined alongside their methodology;
- why civilian reporting databases should not be confused with official investigations;
- how repeated media coverage can transform a fragile statistic into an accepted narrative.
None of this means the Monaco reports were fabricated. It simply means the available evidence does not support treating the average duration as a reliable indicator of national UFO activity.
The broader lesson for interpreting UFO rankings
Monaco’s famous 45-minute average has become one of the most frequently repeated statistics associated with the principality’s UFO history. Yet its reputation rests on a dataset that is both tiny and apparently changeable.
Within the wider study of Monaco’s reported UFO incidents, the ranking is therefore best understood as a cautionary example. It illustrates how a striking numerical claim can spread widely despite resting on only a handful of self-reported observations, and why reported sightings should always be distinguished from independently investigated or confirmed events.[com.au]travelweekly.com.auTravel WeeklyNew study reveals European countries with the longest Alien visits (in case you were wondering) - Travel WeeklyFebruary 4, 2021…
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Endnotes
1.
Source: nuforc.org
Title: NUFOR C Reports by Location
Link:https://nuforc.org/ndx/?id=loc
2.
Source: nuforc.org
Title: Data Bank | NUFORC
Link:https://nuforc.org/databank/
Source snippet
Latest UFO Sightings...
3.
Source: nuforc.org
Link:https://nuforc.org/newmap/
Source snippet
UFO Sightings Map | NUFORCDecember 18, 2023 — NEW! UFO SIGHTINGS MAP * December 18, 2023 * 13 Comments A new interactive global map has b...
Published: December 18, 2023
4.
Source: nuforc.org
Title: NUFOR C Reports for Country Montenegro
Link:https://nuforc.org/subndx/?id=cMontenegro
5.
Source: nuforc.org
Title: All NUFORC Reports
Link:https://nuforc.org/subndx/?id=all
6.
Source: nuforc.org
Link:https://nuforc.org/posts/
7.
Source: nuforc.org
Link:https://nuforc.org/sighting/?id=54210
8.
Source: travelweekly.com.au
Link:https://travelweekly.com.au/new-study-reveals-european-countries-longest-alien-visits-case-wondering/
Source snippet
Travel WeeklyNew study reveals European countries with the longest Alien visits (in case you were wondering) - Travel WeeklyFebruary 4, 2021...
Published: February 4, 2021
9.
Source: iol.co.za
Title: IOLREVEALED: The countries in Europe with the longest alien sightings
Link:https://iol.co.za/travel/world/europe/2021-01-25-revealed-the-countries-in-europe-with-the-longest-alien-sightings/
Additional References
10.
Source: parse.bot
Title: NUFOR C UFO Sightings API – nuforc · Parse
Link:https://parse.bot/marketplace/38fa01c3-5d8a-476f-a152-9d16bbd9a05c/nuforc-org-api
Source snippet
Browse by month, search by year, and retrieve full witness descriptions, shapes, locations, and images. This API ta...
11.
Source: mappr.co
Title: us ufo sightings mapped
Link:https://www.mappr.co/us-ufo-sightings-mapped/
Source snippet
Its public database is the most-cited counterpart to the official military record, and unlike the A...
12.
Source: youtube.com
Title: UFO Videos Explained: Mick West’s Expert Analysis
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_4QF__92q0
Source snippet
Real UFO Hotline For Sleep: Calls from the National UFO Reporting Center...
13.
Source: uapcheck.com
Title: UAP Check
Link:https://www.uapcheck.com/fr/articles/results-of-the-2024-canadian-ufo-survey/3064/
Source snippet
April 14, 2025 — Image Image Duration of UFO Sightings The average duration of UFO sightings in Canada in 2024 was 36 minutes, almost twi...
Published: April 14, 2025
14.
Source: irishpost.com
Link:https://www.irishpost.com/news/ireland-ranked-as-europes-biggest-ufo-hotspot-202216
15.
Source: nitravelnews.com
Link:https://nitravelnews.com/blog/ufo-data-reveals-the-european-country-with-the-longest-alien-visits/
16.
Source: ada-nuforc-analysis.github.io
Link:https://ada-nuforc-analysis.github.io/UFO.html
17.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Real UFO Hotline For Sleep: Calls from the National UFO Reporting Center
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTcX32Sdg_w
Source snippet
UAP Evidence & Analysis | Mick West...
18.
Source: extra.ie
Title: Ireland has the most alien visits in Europe, according to UFO spotting data
Link:https://extra.ie/2021/01/29/news/ireland-europe-ufo-sightings-aliens
19.
Source: forbes.com
Title: UF O Tourism Takes Off At These Hot Spot Locations Around The World
Link:https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2021/06/30/ufo-tourism-takes-off-at-these-hot-spot-locations-around-the-world/