Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ More than 34,000 Nigerians officially became American citizens between 2020 and 2022, marking a significant rise in naturalisation figures and affirming Nigeria’s status as one of Africa’s leading contributors to U.S. immigration.
According to recent findings released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Nigeria ranked 15th globally among countries of origin for newly naturalised citizens during this three-year period. This puts the West African nation squarely in the top 20, ahead of numerous others with larger populations or longer immigration histories in the United States.
The Naturalisation Annual Flow Report, compiled by the Office of Homeland Security Statistics, draws on comprehensive data from Form N-400 the official application required for any lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship. The report details key demographic and procedural information, including age, birthplace, marital status, gender identity, and U.S. state of residence. It also tracks the full arc of the citizenship process, from biometric screenings and interviews to the final oath of allegiance.
For Nigerian nationals, the path to American citizenship has not only been steady but notably accelerated over the past three years:
- 2020: 8,930 Nigerians were naturalised, making up 1.4% of the total 628,258 new U.S. citizens that year.
- 2021: The number rose to 10,921, a 22.3% increase, as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cleared backlogs caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, which had halted oath ceremonies for 11 weeks.
- 2022: A record-breaking 14,438 Nigerians took the oath, marking a 32% jump from the previous year.
This three-year surge amounts to an overall 58.8% increase in naturalisations among Nigerians a remarkable upward trend that highlights the growing presence of African communities in the American civic landscape.
Nigeria’s performance is particularly striking within an African context. The country accounted for 3% of the 248,553 African-born individuals granted U.S. citizenship during the 2020–2022 timeframe. Only the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) joined Nigeria in the global top 30 rankings. The DRC also witnessed an impressive jump in 2022, with its naturalisation numbers nearly doubling to about 6,000.
The DHS report notes that Africa posted the highest regional growth rate, with naturalisations up 40% from 2021 to 2022, a trend attributed to both demographic momentum and increasing rates of lawful permanent residence among African immigrants.
Globally, however, the U.S. naturalisation story remains dominated by a handful of countries. Mexico leads with 326,237 new citizens between 2020 and 2022, followed by India (171,114) and the Philippines (135,313). Other countries with high naturalisation counts include Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, China, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Colombia. Collectively, these ten nations account for nearly half of all 2.4 million new U.S. citizens in the three-year span.
While Europe once dominated U.S. immigration pathways, shifts in legislation, most notably the 1965 amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act, which abolished national-origin quotas, have redirected migration flows towards Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Asia overtook Europe in naturalisations in the 1970s, and today, Africa has become the fastest-growing region in terms of citizenship acquisition.
The report also highlights a noteworthy insight: African immigrants tend to naturalise faster, spending an average of six years as permanent residents before applying for citizenship a year less than the global average.
But not every applicant succeeds. USCIS notes that approval rates vary depending on eligibility and document completeness. The naturalisation process, though rewarding, remains rigorous. Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Maintain lawful permanent residency for five years (or three if married to a U.S. citizen).
- Demonstrate a noble moral character.
- Pass an English and civics test.
- Complete an in-depth background check and attend an interview
Only after satisfying these requirements can they take part in the formal oath ceremony, presided over by a federal judge or authorised official. It’s this moment that marks their final step in becoming full-fledged American citizens with the rights to vote, serve on juries, and access federal benefits.
With 2022 marking an all-time high for Nigerian naturalisations, and projections suggesting continued growth, the story of Nigerian migration to the United States is increasingly one of integration, civic engagement, and community resilience.
