47,000 Nigerians Granted U.S. Citizenship Between 2019 – 2023
The United States conferred citizenship on 47,819 Nigerians over a four-year period, according to newly updated naturalisation data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Figures from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS), updated as of August 2025, show that the naturalisation figures are based on Form N-400 applications submitted by eligible immigrants, and tracked via electronic case files managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversees every step of the process—from biometrics to oath-taking.
The newly released report reveals that 8,930 Nigerians became U.S. citizens in the 2020 fiscal year, which ran from October 2019 to September 2020. That year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced USCIS to suspend oath ceremonies between March 18 and June 4, resulting in delays. Nonetheless, the pace of approvals picked up in the following year, with 10,921 Nigerians completing the naturalisation process in 2021.
The number surged in 2022 to 14,438—marking the highest annual naturalisation count for Nigerians to date, and representing a 32% increase compared to the previous year. However, this upward trend slowed in 2023, when 13,530 Nigerians were sworn in as U.S. citizens.
Altogether, Nigerian nationals accounted for around 1.4% of the 341,884 African-born individuals who naturalised during the four-year window, placing Nigeria among the top countries of origin for new African-American citizens. Also making the OHSS top 30 list was the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which saw its own naturalisation numbers double in 2022 to roughly 6,000.
Other African countries prominently featured in the report include Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. Africans overall represented 11% of all new U.S. citizens in 2022 and 2023—the highest proportion ever recorded—compared to the average of 9.6% during the decade spanning 2010 to 2019.
“African-born individuals who naturalised in 2023 had a median of six years in lawful permanent resident status before naturalising,” the report noted, adding that this period matches the timeframe for Asian applicants and is the shortest of any world region.
From 2020 to 2023, naturalisations among Africans increasedby 43%, the fastest growth rate among all continents.
Globally, Mexico topped the list with 437,697 naturalised citizens over the three years. India followed with 230,164, registering steady increases from 2020 through 2022, before dipping to 59,050 in 2023.
Other countries with high naturalisation figures include the Philippines (180,073), Cuba (159,393), Dominican Republic (116,523), Vietnam (113,487), China (113,126), Jamaica (77,335), El Salvador (73,489), and Colombia (65,486). Combined, the top ten nations accounted for over 50% of the 3.3 million naturalisations recorded in the three-year period.
USCIS clarified that naturalisation approvals are not directly proportional to application volumes, as some applications are denied or deferred to subsequent fiscal years.
The naturalisation process is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952, and overseen by USCIS, which conducts extensive background checks including FBI name and fingerprint verification. Applicants must also undergo interviews, demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics, and satisfy residency and moral character requirements.
“To be considered for naturalisation, an applicant must meet statutory and regulatory requirements and file a Form N-400, Application for Naturalisation, with appropriate documentation,” the agency stated.
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducts an investigation and examination of all naturalisation applicants, which includes completion of security and criminal background checks, review of the applicant’s complete immigration record, interview(s) with oral and written testimony, testing for English and civics requirements, and qualifications for accommodations or disability exceptions,” the department added.
Upon approval, candidates are scheduled for a mandatory oath ceremony administered by a judge or designated government official.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have maintained lawful permanent residency for at least five years—or three years if married to a U.S. citizen. They are also required to show continuous residence and physical presence during that period, and affirm allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
For much of U.S. history, European nationals formed the majority of new citizens. But after sweeping changes to the INA in 1965, which ended the national-origins quota system, immigration patterns shifted significantly toward Asia and later Africa. According to the OHSS, Asia surpassed Europe in the 1970s, and since 2020, African nationals have led the global growth in naturalisations.
While 969,000 people naturalised in 2022, the figure declined to 878,460 in 2023. In 2021, USCIS approved 814,000 naturalisation applications—marking a 34% increase from the 2010–2020 average of 721,000 per year.
