U.S. Grants Citizenship to 34,000 Nigerians in 3 Years

Between 2020 and 2022, a total of 34,289 Nigerians were granted U.S. citizenship through naturalization, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s latest Naturalizations Annual Flow Report.

This figure places Nigeria among the top 20 countries of birth for individuals naturalized during this period, ranking 15th globally.

Yearly Breakdown of Nigerian Naturalizations

2020: 8,930 Nigerians obtained U.S. citizenship, accounting for 1.4% of the 628,258 naturalizations that year.

2021: The number increased by 22.3% to 10,921, as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) addressed a backlog caused by an 11-week COVID-19 lockdown that temporarily halted all oath ceremonies.

2022: A rise occurred with 14,438 Nigerians naturalized, marking a 32% increase from the previous year and the highest annual total for Nigerians in the three years.

Regional Context

Among African nations, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo were the only countries in the global top-30 list of naturalized citizens.

Nigeria led the African region, followed by the DRC, whose naturalizations nearly doubled in 2022 to about 6,000. Collectively, these two countries represented a significant portion of the 248,553 African naturalizations during this timeframe.

Global Perspective

Over the three years, the U.S. naturalized approximately 2.4 million individuals. The top 10 countries of birth for these new citizens were:

1. Mexico – 326,237
2. India – 171,114
3. Philippines – 135,313
4. Cuba – 126,203
5. Dominican Republic – 81,303
6. Vietnam – 80,177
7. China – 82,376
8. Jamaica – 57,145
9. El Salvador – 52,399
10. Colombia – 48,396

Together, these countries accounted for nearly half of all U.S. naturalizations during the period.

Trends and Implications

The data indicates a consistent increase in the number of Nigerians obtaining U.S. citizenship, with a 58.8% rise over the three-year period. This trend reflects broader patterns of African immigration to the United States, where African immigrants have been among the fastest-growing groups in recent years. Factors contributing to this growth include educational opportunities, employment prospects, and family reunification programs.

The naturalization process involves meeting specific eligibility criteria, including lawful permanent resident status for at least five years, demonstrating good moral character, passing English and civics tests, and taking an oath of allegiance. Upon naturalization, individuals gain the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens, including the right to vote.