- The UK issued 202,041 citizenships in 2023;
- Citizenship Grants to EU Nationals were in total 47,259 increased by 4% from the previous year (makes up 23% of all grants);
- Citizenship Grants to Non-EU Nationals remained at 154,78 with an increase of 19% from the previous year (this is 77% of all issued numbers).
According to the latest available “UK Citizenship Statistics 2023”, a record 202,041 people were granted citizenship last year. These are the highest numbers during the last whole decade.
Furthermore, these numbers are 15% more than those in 2022. The recent rise in the numbers is due to most of the non-EU nationals naturalized in the United Kindom. Overall, by the end of 2023, about 230,918 people applied for the naturalization process.
Top EU Nationalities Granted Citizenship in 2023
Following are the top EU Nationals awarded British Citizenship last year:
- Italian Nationals: 10,636
- Romanian Nationals: 6,335
- Polish Nationals: 5,871
These three nationalities (Italian, Romanian, and Polish) accounted for nearly half (48%) of the grants of British citizenship to EU nationals in 2023. Furthermore, since 2013, these three nationalities have consistently made up over 40% of the grants to EU nationals each quarter.
Top Non-EU Nationalities Granted British Citizenship in 2023
Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerians accounted for over one-quarter (28%) of the grants to non-EU nationals in 2023 by the UK:
- Indian Nationals: 18,288
- Pakistani Nationals: 16,440
- Nigerian Nationals: 8,836
Citizenships issued over the past 20 years
During the last 2 decades, 2023 recorded the third-highest numbers. Before this, in 2013, the highest number of people were granted 208,095 citizenship. The UK has issued the following number of people citizenships in the past 20 years (from 2004 to 2023)
| Year | Applications Submitted | Citizenships Granted |
| 2004 | 125,668 | 148,273 |
| 2005 | 211,911 | 161,699 |
| 2006 | 140,926 | 154,018 |
| 2007 | 157,057 | 164,637 |
| 2008 | 156,016 | 129,377 |
| 2009 | 193,810 | 203,789 |
| 2010 | 199,767 | 195,094 |
| 2011 | 207,797 | 177,934 |
| 2012 | 181,410 | 194,370 |
| 2013 | 232,262 | 208,095 |
| 2014 | 127,259 | 125,754 |
| 2015 | 150,767 | 118,109 |
| 2016 | 130,995 | 149,421 |
| 2017 | 141,799 | 123,213 |
| 2018 | 165,286 | 157,023 |
| 2019 | 174,438 | 159,380 |
| 2020 | 170,692 | 130,568 |
| 2021 | 179,968 | 189,803 |
| 2022 | 190,741 | 175,972 |
| 2023 | 230,918 | 202,041 |
| Total | 3,469,487 | 3,268,570 |
UK Issued 337,240 Work Visas Last Year – UK Work Visa Statistics 2023