In 2024, almost 1.2 million people were granted citizenship across European Union countries, marking a significant rise of 11.6% compared with 2023. According to data released
by Eurostat, this represents an increase of more than 122,000 new citizens in just one year—and a striking 54.5% jump compared with a decade ago in 2014.
The figures underline a broader trend: Europe remains a major destination for migrants seeking long-term stability, rights, and integration through citizenship.
Germany, Spain and Italy dominate naturalisations
Three countries accounted for nearly two-thirds of all citizenships granted in 2024:
- Germany: 288,700 (24.5% of total EU naturalisations)
- Spain: 252,500 (21.4%)
- Italy: 217,400 (18.5%)
These countries have long-standing immigration systems and relatively established pathways to citizenship, often tied to residency duration, employment, and family reunification.
Non-EU nationals make up the vast majority
A striking 88% of new EU citizens in 2024 were originally from non-EU countries. Only 10.6% were citizens of other EU member states acquiring a second EU nationality.
This highlights that EU citizenship policy continues to function primarily as a tool for integrating third-country nationals rather than facilitating mobility within the bloc.
Syrians, Moroccans and Albanians lead the rankings
As in previous years, Syrian nationals topped the list of new EU citizens, with 110,100 people naturalised in 2024. Many are beneficiaries of humanitarian protection policies introduced after the Syrian conflict.
They were followed by:
- Moroccans: 97,100
- Albanians: 48,000
These patterns reflect both historical migration ties (such as Morocco with Spain and France) and more recent asylum trends.
Sweden tops naturalisation rate
When measured relative to the number of foreign residents, Sweden recorded the highest naturalisation rate in the EU in 2024, with 7.5 citizenships granted per 100 non-national residents.
Other high-ranking countries include:
- Italy: 4.1
- Spain: 3.9
- Netherlands: 3.9
At the lower end:
- Lithuania: 0.1
- Bulgaria: 0.3
- Estonia: 0.3
These differences reflect varying national policies, administrative processes, and political attitudes toward citizenship.
EU citizenship policies: key differences across member states
While EU citizenship provides common rights—such as free movement, voting in EU elections, and consular protection—the path to obtaining it varies significantly across countries.
1. Residency Requirements
Most EU countries require 5 to 10 years of legal residence before applying for citizenship:
- Germany: Typically 5 years (recently reduced from 8 under reforms)
- France: 5 years
- Italy: Up to 10 years for non-EU nationals
- Spain: 10 years, but reduced to 2 years for many Latin American nationals
Shorter residency periods are often granted to refugees, spouses of citizens, or individuals with historical ties.
2. Language and integration tests
Many countries require applicants to demonstrate:
- Language proficiency (e.g., B1 level in Germany)
- Knowledge of national history, laws, and society
Countries like the Netherlands and Germany have formal integration exams, while others apply more flexible assessments.
3. Dual citizenship rules
Policies differ widely:
* **Permissive countries**: France, Italy, Spain (in many cases) allow dual citizenship
More restrictive: Austria and historically Germany (though rules are becoming more flexible)
Recent reforms in Germany now allow broader acceptance of dual citizenship, marking a major policy shift.
4. Citizenship by Investment (Golden Passports)
Some EU countries previously offered citizenship in exchange for significant investment:
- Malta still operates a highly regulated version
- Cyprus and Bulgaria have largely ended such programs after EU scrutiny
The European Commission has increasingly pushed for stricter oversight, citing security and transparency concerns.
5. Citizenship by descent
Many EU countries offer fast-track citizenship based on ancestry:
- Ireland: Allows citizenship through grandparents
- Italy: Offers citizenship through distant ancestry (jus sanguinis), making it popular among diaspora communities
- Poland and others also maintain similar provisions
A growing political and social issue
The rise in EU citizenship grants comes amid ongoing debates about migration, integration, and labor shortages.
On one hand, naturalisation is seen as a key tool for social inclusion and economic participation. On the other, it remains politically sensitive in several countries, especially amid rising populist movements.
What this means for the future
With Europe facing demographic decline and workforce shortages, many analysts expect citizenship policies to gradually become more flexible—especially for skilled migrants.
At the same time, stricter controls on irregular migration and asylum systems are likely to coexist with these more open naturalisation pathways. Photo by JouWatch, Wikimedia commons.