Nigeria has made significant strides in U.S. military naturalization, with 3,270 Nigerian-born service members gaining American citizenship between 2020 and 2024. This places Nigeria fourth among countries with the highest numbers of citizens naturalized through military service, behind the Philippines (5,630), Jamaica (5,420), and Mexico (3,670).
Breakdown of Military Naturalizations
- Army: 60% of all military naturalizations
- Navy: 20.4%
- Air Force: 10.6%
- Marine Corps: 6.6%
- Coast Guard: less than 1%
The data also reveals a steady increase in Nigerian service members gaining U.S. citizenship over the last five years, with numbers rising from 340 in 2020 to 930 in 2024. Additionally, half of all service members who naturalized were between 22 and 30 years old, with a median age of 27.
