12% of Those Polled Believe in Astrology

Only about one American in eight believes in astrology, according to a Gallup survey conducted shortly after First Lady Nancy Reagan’s interest in astrology was reported in a book by former White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan.

The nationwide telephone survey of 1,204 adults, conducted May 13-15, revealed that 80% of Americans say they do not believe in astrology, 12% do believe and 8% are undecided.

Ten years ago, more people said they believed in astrology, which maintains that the positions of heavenly bodies influence human events. In a 1978 Gallup Poll, 29% said they believed in astrology.

However, another Gallup survey, conducted in April, showed that Americans have not given up on reading astrology columns. In a 1975 survey, 23% said they read an astrology column regularly, and in April, 25% said they read a column regularly.