Nigerians Top Green Card Recipients in Africa for 2023

 

In 2023, Nigerians received the highest number of U.S. green cards among African countries, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The figures were released in the 2023 Lawful Permanent Residents Annual Flow Report by the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS).

The report indicated that nearly 1.173 million individuals were granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the U.S. last year, with 418,930 of those from Africa, accounting for 35.7 percent of the total. Nigeria was the only African nation listed among the top 20 countries for green card recipients, ranking 15th overall.

Of the new LPRs, 52 percent were already living in the U.S. when their status was granted, and 64 percent gained their green cards through family connections with U.S. citizens or current LPRs. The top three countries for new green card recipients were Mexico, Cuba, and India.

California emerged as the most popular state for new immigrants, welcoming 205,040 newcomers, followed by Florida, New York, Texas, and New Jersey.

The report also noted that the median age of new LPRs was 35 years, with a significant 62 percent increase in green cards issued to individuals aged 65 and older. Women made up the majority of green card recipients, and married applicants accounted for the highest number based on marital status.

These findings are consistent with statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, which reports that 13.7 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Black or African American.