The latest Eurostat figures show that in 2016, approximately 995,000 persons acquired citizenship of an EU Member State, an increase of 154,000 compared to 2015 (841,000 persons).
Ireland experienced the largest decrease in the number of persons granted citizenship (in absolute terms) out of all the EU-28 Member States with 3,500 fewer persons granted Irish citizenship in 2016 compared with 2015, followed by Poland (300).
The most new citizenships were granted in the following EU-28 Member States in 2016:
- Italy: 201,591 (20% of all citizenships granted in the EU in 2016)
- Spain: 150,944 (15%)
- United Kingdom: 149,372 (15%)
- France: 119,152 (12%) and
- Germany: 112,843 (11%)
In 2016, the largest groups that acquired citizenship of an EU Member State were citizens of:
- Morocco: 101,300 (10%)
- Albania: 67,500 (7 %)
- India: 41,700 (4%)
- Pakistan: 32,900 (3%) and
- Turkey: 32,800 (3%)
The two largest groups of EU citizens acquiring citizenship of another EU Member State for this period were:
- Romanians: 29,700 persons and
- Poles: 19,800
Ireland
10,038 persons were granted Irish citizenship in 2016.
The largest groups that acquired citizenship in Ireland were citizens of:
- Poland: 1,300 or 13%
- India: 1,000 10%
- Nigeria: 800 or 8%
- Philippines: 700 or 7%
- Pakistan: 400 or 4%
- Brazil: 300 or 3%
The top two EU citizens acquiring citizenship in Ireland in 2016 were:
- Poles: 1,300 and
- Romanians: 800
For more information:
See: Eurostat News Release 59/2018 – 9 April 2018
Eurostat Acquisition of citizenship statistics (March 2018)
Eurostat Infographic: Acquisition of citizenship in the EU28
