By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
More than 277,000 Africans have been granted U.S. citizenship in the last three years, with Nigerians accounting for the largest share.
The United States recorded 878,460 new citizens in 2023, a 9.4 per cent drop from 969,380 in 2022 but still 20 per cent above the 2010–2019 annual average of 730,100 before COVID-19.
Between 2021 and 2023, a total of 277,430 Africans became U.S. citizens. The numbers grew from 76,010 in 2021 (9.3 per cent) to 106,090 in 2022 (10.9 per cent), before easing slightly to 95,330 in 2023 (10.9 per cent).
Nigeria stood out as Africa’s leader, with 38,890 new U.S. citizens between 2021 and 2023. This included 10,920 in 2021, 14,440 in 2022, and 13,530 in 2023.
Nigerians accounted for about 14 per cent of all Africans naturalised during the period, reinforcing the country’s place as the leading source of African-born U.S. citizens.
The leading countries of birth for new citizens in 2023 were Mexico (111,460), India (59,050), the Philippines (44,760), the Dominican Republic (35,220), and Vietnam (33,310). California (154,520), Texas (100,290), and New York (94,210) were the top states of residence for those naturalised.