Over 3,270 Nigerian-born military personnel gained U.S. citizenship from 2020 to 2024, ranking Nigeria fourth globally. The Army accounted for 60% of naturalizations, with most service members aged 22-30. This trend highlights Nigeria's growing presence in U.S. military naturalizations and the opportunities available through military service.
The United States naturalized 3,270 Nigerian-born military service members between 2020 and 2024, placing Nigeria fourth among countries with the highest number of military naturalizations. This was revealed in data released by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The Philippines led the count with 5,630 naturalizations, followed by Jamaica (5,420) and Mexico (3,670). Together with Nigeria and Ghana, these top five countries accounted for over 38% of military naturalizations during the period.
The figures show a steady rise in Nigerians gaining U.S. citizenship through military service, increasing from 340 in 2020 to 930 in 2024. The Army contributed the majority (60%) of these naturalizations, followed by the Navy (20.4%), Air Force (10.6%), and Marine Corps (6.6%). The Coast Guard accounted for less than 1%.
The median age of naturalized military personnel was 27, with half aged between 22 and 30 years. Gender data revealed that 73% of these service members were men, though the proportion of women increased slightly over the years.
