Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon lead African countries in US military naturalisations
Recent data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revealed that the number of Africans joining the United States armed forces and becoming US citizens through military naturalisation has surged significantly between 2020 and 2024.
Notably, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon topped the list of African countries of birth for naturalised citizens during this period.
In the fiscal year 2024 alone, the number of Africans obtaining citizenship through military service tripled to 2,200, compared to just 700 in 2020. Over the four-year period, 3,270 Nigerian-born service members were naturalised, followed by 2,190 from Ghana and 1,750 from Cameroon. Altogether, 52,000 individuals gained US citizenship through military service between FY 2020 and FY 2024.
US law offers special provisions for military members, both current and former, easing certain requirements in the naturalization process. Among all service members naturalised, the top five countries of birth - Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana - accounted for over 38% of the total naturalisations.
Countries like Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea comprised an additional 16%.
Most service members who naturalised during this period were between 22 and 30 years old, with men making up 73% of the total. The percentage of women naturalising through military service has grown slightly over the years, indicating a gradual shift in gender representation.
