Nigerians Received the Most US Green Cards Among African Countries in 2023
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Nigerians received the highest number of US green cards among African nations in 2023.
The information, presented in the 2023 Lawful Permanent Residents Annual Flow Report by the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS), revealed that nearly 1,173,000 individuals were granted lawful permanent resident (LPR) status last year.
Of this total, 418,930 new LPRs, or green card holders, hailed from Africa, representing 35.7 percent of the overall figures. Notably, Nigeria was the only African country to make the top 20 list for green card recipients, ranking 15th overall.
Among the new LPRs, 52 percent were already living in the US at the time their status was granted, and 64 percent obtained LPR status through family ties with US citizens or current LPRs. The leading countries for new green card recipients by birth included Mexico, Cuba, and India.
California emerged as the most popular state for immigrants, welcoming 205,040 new arrivals, 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. Females constituted the majority of green card recipients, and married applicants received the highest number of approvals based on marital status.
This data aligns with US Census Bureau statistics, which indicate that 13.7 percent of the US population is Black or African American.