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Nigeria → United States

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Nigeria
To
United States
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
16,330
Change since 2018
+18.6%
Share of all arrivals in the United States, 2023
1.39%
Inflow 202316,330OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Nigeria to the United States

Inflows of nationals of Nigeria recorded by the United States; stock of nationals of Nigeria living there; and acquisitions of the United States' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

8,16516k200020032006200920122015201820212023
8,16516k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20007,831
20018,253
20028,105
20037,872
20049,374
200510,597
200613,459
200712,448
200812,064
200914,920
201013,134
201111,647
201213,225
201313,529
201412,630
201511,338
201614,061
201713,366
201813,770
201915,693
202012,247
202112,940
202212,116
202316,330
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—224,930—
202316,330180,83312,350
202212,116195,53314,474
202112,940184,14210,767
202012,247180,4478,778
201915,693207,82811,203
201813,770163,1728,375
201713,366145,8537,537
201614,061150,8669,447
201511,338107,77310,308
201412,63094,4938,609
201313,52996,6229,426
201213,225101,8639,205
201111,647104,9939,289
201013,134104,8979,007
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Nigeria who live in the United States: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

283k565k19901995200020052010201520202024
283k565k19902000201020202024
Data table
199056,108
199598,420
2000125,503
2005167,721
2010221,495
2015324,227
2020451,656
2024565,053
Estimate, 2024
565,053
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
21
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

U.S. visas

Visas issued to citizens of Nigeria (fiscal years) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B253,893
  2. F13,939
  3. J11,060
  4. K1911
  5. H1B884
  6. F2859
  7. A2741
  8. H4587
  9. G2381
  10. G4308
  11. C1/D263
  12. L2199

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

72k144k201720182019202020212022202320242025
72k144k20172019202120232025
Data table
201796,085
2018143,783
201992,317
202032,856
202124,792
202284,670
2023113,982
202487,361
202565,527
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. F42,295
  2. IR12,073
  3. IR22,064
  4. IR51,992
  5. F11,222
  6. F31,108
  7. FX604
  8. E2543

Certified PERM cases by fiscal year (citizenship published to FY2024)

32164120082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3216412008201120142017202020232024
Data table
2008174
2009113
2010295
2011200
2012197
2013123
2014225
2015255
2016288
2017232
2018333
2019290
2020296
2021348
2022521
2023629
2024641
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards, citizenship and admissions

Green cards and naturalizations of people born in Nigeria, and I-94 admissions of citizens of Nigeria, by fiscal year (DHS).

Fiscal yearGreen cardsNaturalizationsI-94 admissions
202419,61012,310142,770
202315,79013,530132,430
202212,39014,44078,100
202113,10010,92041,330
202012,4008,93064,730
201915,89011,360181,000
201813,9508,470221,820
201713,5407,650215,800
201614,3809,520216,110
201511,54010,360214,520
I-94 admissions by class of admission, FY2024
  1. B206,770
  2. F25,190
  3. J4,710
  4. H1B4,630
  5. G3,430
  6. A2,270
  7. O2,010
  8. K1,720
  9. L1,440
  10. H1,250
  11. C1,160
  12. TN810
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens15,370
  2. Employment-based preferences2,770
  3. Family-sponsored preferences850
  4. Refugees and asylees580
  5. Other classes30
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)2,700
  2. Spouses and children1,470
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)930
  4. Intracompany transferees (L-1)870
  5. Other temporary workers530
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)290
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Nigeria)
19,610
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Nigeria)
12,310
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
142,770
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United States in Nigeria, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
Consulate-generalLagosng.usembassy.gov
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the United States, 2023; Nigeria ranks 17.

Inflows to the United States, 2023
  1. Mexico190,560
  2. Cuba88,480
  3. India68,420
  4. Dominican Republic67,700
  5. China57,240
  6. Philippines48,690
  7. Vietnam37,040
  8. Afghanistan35,630
  9. Brazil27,440
  10. El Salvador27,280
  11. Colombia26,150
  12. Jamaica22,120
Other destinations for people from Nigeria, 2023
  1. Canada17,465
  2. Germany6,368
  3. Italy6,182
  4. Spain3,326
  5. France1,797
  6. Netherlands1,518
  7. Australia1,394
  8. Türkiye1,100
  9. Finland1,020
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more