You know when the crisp autumn air wafts the scent of pumpkin spice and the sight of dressed-up kids and adults in fantastical costumes signals October 31st, the spooky festival of Halloween.

Rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration marking the close of the harvest season and embracing the thinning veil between the living and the dead, Halloween’s evolution took a significant turn. The influx of Irish immigrants into the U.S. in the 19th century played a pivotal role, leading to the adoption and adaptation of this celebration as we know it today by American society.

But is this holiday a truly global phenomenon or primarily an American affair? Real Research Halloween Celebration 2023 survey was conducted to find out exactly that, and the results paint a vivid picture of the popularity of Halloween across the globe.

Dive in to discover how people worldwide celebrated Halloween this year.

Highlights

  • Only 50% of participants worldwide celebrate Halloween
  • 47% were participating in this year’s celebration but 53% decided to skip it
  • 48.48% believe Halloween’s popularity is growing, while 51.52% see a decline

Does the Spooky Season Go Global?

As the Real Research Halloween Celebration 2023 survey aired, thousands of participants from every corner of the world shared their opinions about how they celebrated this festival.

The findings reveal a split: only 50.36% of respondents confirmed celebrating Halloween, while 49.64% did not. Interestingly, among those who celebrate, the majority prefer to do so alone.

The almost 50=50 split between those who celebrate Halloween vs. those who don’t
Fig. 1: The almost 50=50 split between those who celebrate Halloween vs. those who don’t

But when asked about plans to celebrate Halloween in 2023, the scales seem to tip in the opposite direction.

The graph of non-celebrating individuals surged higher than those intended to partake. To be precise, a mere 46.91% of respondents celebrated, while a staggering majority of 53.09% decided to skip it.

Poll on Participants’ Plans to Celebrate Halloween This Year
Fig. 2: Poll on Participants’ Plans to Celebrate Halloween This Year

The media often portrays Halloween as a universally loved celebration. However, the Real Research Halloween Celebration 2023 survey results illustrate a different reality. Nearly 35% of respondents confessed to disliking everything about Halloween.

But then, what exactly do they like?

Decorating for the occasion?

Not so much.

Real Research Halloween Celebration 2023 survey findings showed that a whopping 55.78% of respondents admitted they don’t decorate for Halloween, compared to only 44.22% who embrace the festive spirit with spooky adornments.

Perhaps dressing up?

Not always!

Nearly half the respondents (46.89%) chose not to dress up for Halloween, while 26.5% do embrace the costume tradition; it’s only occasional for 26.61% of them.

These figures paint a clear picture: for a significant portion of the population, Halloween falls flat.

Read Also: 51% Celebrate Halloween With Their Family Members

A Mixed Bag for Halloween Inspiration

While some avoid Halloween altogether, others find inspiration for their Halloween costumes or decorations through pop culture references. Real Research Halloween Celebration 2023 survey findings reveal a fascinating split—

On one hand, there were pop culture aficionados, as 63.4% confirmed being influenced by pop culture trends, with 32.8% “often” and 30.6% “always” inspired by trendy characters, movies, or shows.

On the other hand, 36.6% of independent spirits preferred to chart their own course, with 14.64% “rarely” and 21.96% “never” influenced by pop culture trends.

The Verdict

So, coming back to the question– Is Halloween a truly global phenomenon?

Not quite yet!

Is it becoming popular across the globe?

Well, the findings revealed conflicting opinions on Halloween’s global popularity, as 48.48% reckoned Halloween has become more popular in recent years. Meanwhile, 51.52% argued that Halloween’s popularity has decreased from what it was in the yesteryears.

Opinion on the Popularity of Halloween
Fig. 3: Opinion on the Popularity of Halloween

While it enjoys popularity in certain regions, it remains a niche celebration for others. Ultimately, Halloween’s appeal varies across cultures and individuals, making it a diverse and ever-evolving holiday. But one thing is for sure—Halloween will continue to spark intrigue and inspire creativity across cultures, making it a truly fascinating celebration to explore.

Methodology

Survey TitleSurvey on Halloween Celebrations, 2023
DurationOctober 22 – October 29, 2023
Number of Participants10,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.