Nigeria ranks fourth globally in the number of citizens granted U.S. citizenship through military naturalization between 2020 and 2024.
During this period, over 52,000 military personnel from various countries were naturalized in the United States. Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shows that 3,270 Nigerian-born service members received U.S. citizenship, placing Nigeria behind the Philippines (5,630), Jamaica (5,420), and Mexico (3,670).
According to the report, service members from the top five countries of birth—Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana—accounted for over 38% of all military naturalizations. Meanwhile, the next five countries—Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea—added another 16% to the total.
Steady Growth in Nigerian Military Naturalizations
The number of Nigerian service members gaining citizenship has seen consistent growth over the last five years. Starting with 340 in 2020, the number rose to 630 in 2021, 680 in 2022, 690 in 2023, and peaked at 930 in 2024.
Distribution by Military Branch
The report highlighted that the U.S. Army accounted for the majority (60%) of all military naturalizations during the period, followed by the Navy (20.4%), Air Force (10.6%), and Marine Corps (6.6%). The Coast Guard contributed less than 1% of naturalized service members.
Age and Gender Statistics
Most naturalized service members were between 22 and 30 years old, with a median age of 27. Approximately 17% were aged 21 or younger, while nearly 5% were over 40 at the time of naturalization.
In terms of gender, men comprised 73% of the naturalized service members, although the proportion of women gradually increased over the years.
This data underscores the significant contributions of Nigerians and other foreign-born individuals to the U.S. military and the opportunities military service provides for citizenship.
