Among nations whose residents received U.S. citizenship through military naturalization between 2020 and 2024, Nigeria came in at number four.
Over 52,000 military service men from various nations were naturalized by the US throughout the reviewed period.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data released Monday showed that 3,270 military members born in Nigeria were granted U.S. citizenship, second only to those born in 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 among those naturalised — comprised over 38% of the naturalizations since FY 2020.
According to the data analysis, “an additional 16% of military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024 were from the next five countries of birth — Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea.”
According to the data, during the last five years, there has been a steady growth in the number of Nigerian service members who have obtained U.S. citizenship.
340 in 2020, 630 the following year, 680 in 2022, 690 in 2023, and 930 in 2024 were the highest numbers.
Of all military naturalizations during this time, the Army made up 60%, followed by the Marine Corps (6.6%), Navy (20.4%), and Air Force (10.6%). The Coast Guard employed less than one percent of naturalized service personnel.
“From FY 2020 to FY 2024, over two-thirds (60%) of all military naturalizations were Army service members, including National Guard and Reserves. Coast Guard service men made up less than one percent. According to the study, the Marine Corps made up 6.6%, the Air Force 10.6%, and the Navy 20.4%.
When they became naturalized, half of the service personnel were between the ages of 22 and 30.
When they became naturalized, half of all service personnel were between the ages of 22 and 30. Between FY 2020 and FY 2024, the median age of all service personnel who became naturalized was 27. Nearly 5% were over 40, and over 17% were under 21 years old, according to the data.
In terms of gender distribution, men made up 73% of the naturalized service personnel.
73% of the service members who were naturalized between FY 2020 and FY 2024 were men. Over time, the percentage of female service members climbed little, the research continued.
