More than 71,000 Nigerians have acquired Canadian citizenship over the past 19 years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that over 71,459 Nigerians acquired Canadian citizenship between 2005 and 2024.

IRCC, a department of the Canadian government responsible for immigration, refugees, and citizenship, noted that this figure places Nigeria 10th among countries of birth for new Canadian citizens.

This statistic is separate from the number of Nigerians currently living, studying, or working in Canada who have not yet qualified for citizenship.

The data from IRCC reveals that new Canadians originate from at least 196 countries and territories, with the top 10 countries accounting for nearly half of all new citizens, showcasing the diversity of Canada’s new citizen population.

Irene Bloemraad, a political sociologist and migration expert, told CTVNews that high levels of citizenship are beneficial, correlating with better economic outcomes and a greater sense of belonging to Canada.

The data indicates that since 2005, India has been the leading source of new Canadian citizens with 536,279 individuals, followed by the Philippines with 395,694, and China with 292,325.

Other countries in the top 10 include Pakistan with 180,999 new citizens, Iran with 130,998, the United States with 99,652, the United Kingdom with 98,837, Syria with 72,706, South Korea with 71,939, and Nigeria with 71,459.

Toronto-based immigration consultant Al Parsai noted that the consistent number of new citizens from countries like India and the Philippines reflects their significant contributions to the Canadian labor market and society. He also highlighted that the rise in new citizens from conflict-affected countries like Syria and Ukraine underscores Canada’s role in providing refuge and support to those in need.

In November 2023, Canada announced a new immigration-level plan targeting the admission of 485,000 new immigrants, with a goal to welcome 500,000 new immigrants each year in 2025 and 2026. The plan aims to include economic, family, refugee, and humanitarian classes.