The United States naturalized 47,819 Nigerian citizens between 2019 and 2023, with a record 14,438 taking the oath in 2022, making Nigeria a top source country for new Americans from Africa.
The United States Department of Homeland Security has reported that 47,819 Nigerians were sworn in as naturalized American citizens between 2019 and 2023. The data, drawn from the updated U.S. Naturalisations Annual Flow Report, reveals a significant commitment to citizenship by Nigerian immigrants.
The figures, compiled from official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) case files, show a steady climb. After 8,930 naturalizations in the 2020 fiscal year, which was impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns, numbers rose to 10,921 in 2021 as backlogs were cleared. A record 14,438 Nigerians obtained citizenship in 2022—a 32% annual jump—before a slight dip to 13,530 in 2023.
Nigeria emerged as a leading source country for new citizens from Africa, accounting for approximately 1.4% of all African naturalizations in that period. The report highlighted that “African-born nationals accounted for 11 per cent of all U.S. naturalisations in both 2022 and 2023, the highest share on record.” Furthermore, Africans who naturalized in 2023 had a median of just six years as lawful permanent residents before taking the oath, the shortest wait time of any global region.
Globally, Mexico led all countries with 437,697 naturalizations over the three-year window from 2020-2023, followed by India (230,164) and the Philippines (180,073). The USCIS noted that application volumes and approvals do not always move in lockstep, as some petitions are denied or decided in a later fiscal year.