The United States government has granted citizenship to 3,270 Nigerian-born service members between 2020 and 2024 through military naturalization programs. Nigeria ranked fourth among countries with the highest number of naturalized military personnel, following the Philippines (5,630), Jamaica (5,420), and Mexico (3,670), according to data released by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
During this period, over 52,000 military service members from various countries became U.S. citizens, with individuals from the top five nations, including Nigeria, accounting for 38% of all naturalizations. The analysis also noted an upward trend in the number of Nigerians joining the program, with the yearly total rising steadily from 340 in 2020 to 930 in 2024.
The data revealed that 73% of naturalized service members were men, while women accounted for a growing proportion over the years. The majority (60%) of naturalized personnel served in the U.S. Army, including the National Guard and Reserves. Other branches accounted for smaller percentages, with the Navy at 20.4%, the Air Force at 10.6%, and the Marine Corps at 6.6%. Less than 1% served in the Coast Guard.
The age profile of these service members showed that half were between 22 and 30 years old at the time of naturalization, with a median age of 27. Around 17% were 21 or younger, while 5% were over 40 years old.
The top ten countries of birth for naturalized U.S. military personnel included the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Ghana, Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea. Together, these nations represented over half of all military naturalizations during the review period.
This pathway to citizenship highlights the significant contributions of immigrants to the U.S. armed forces and their role in national defense, while offering them opportunities for permanent integration into American society.
