Nigeria ranked fourth among countries whose citizens were granted U.S. citizenship through military naturalization between 2020 and 2024.
During this period, the United States naturalized over 52,000 military service members from various countries, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Among these, 3,270 Nigerian-born service members were naturalized, trailing only the Philippines (5,630), Jamaica (5,420), and Mexico (3,670).
“Service members born in the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana — the top five countries of birth for naturalized service members — accounted for over 38% of all military naturalizations since fiscal year 2020. The next five countries — Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea — contributed an additional 16%,” the USCIS report noted.
The data showed a steady increase in the number of Nigerian service members gaining U.S. citizenship over the five-year period. In 2020, 340 Nigerians were naturalized, with the numbers rising to 630 in 2021, 680 in 2022, 690 in 2023, and 930 in 2024.
The Army led with 60% of all military naturalizations during this timeframe, followed by the Navy (20.4%), Air Force (10.6%), and Marine Corps (6.6%). Less than 1% of naturalized service members served in the Coast Guard.
“Service members from the Army (including National Guard and Reserves) accounted for the majority of military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024, while Coast Guard members comprised less than 1%,” the report emphasized.
The report revealed that half of the naturalized service members were between 22 and 30 years old, with a median age of 27. About 17% were aged 21 or younger, while nearly 5% were over 40 at the time of naturalization.
In terms of gender, 73% of naturalized service members during this period were male. The proportion of female service members increased slightly over the years.
This data highlights the significant contributions of Nigerian-born individuals to the U.S. military and their increasing presence among those earning citizenship through service.
