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Moroccans rank second in EU citizenship grants in 2023, losing top spot to Syrians
According to the latest figures released by Eurostat, Moroccans ranked as the second-largest group to receive citizenship from European Union (EU) member states in 2023. A total of 106,500 Moroccans were granted EU citizenship, trailing just behind Syrians, who claimed the top spot with 107,500 citizenships.
This marks a shift from prior years, during which Moroccans led the list of new EU citizens. Albanians came third in 2023, with 44,400 citizenships granted.
The EU collectively granted citizenship to 1.1 million people in 2023, reflecting a 6.1% increase—or 60,200 additional grants—compared to 2022. Spain emerged as the leading granting country, with 240,200 new citizenships issued, accounting for 22.9% of the total. Italy followed with 213,600 citizenships, while Germany ranked third with 199,800.
Eurostat highlighted that the majority (87.6%) of those granted EU citizenship were originally from non-EU countries, while 10.7% were citizens of another EU country.
Sweden recorded the highest naturalization rate among EU countries in 2023, with 70 citizenships granted per 100 non-national residents. Romania came second, with Italy in third.
Historical trends
In both 2021 and 2022, Moroccans led the EU citizenship list, with 86,200 and 112,700 grants, respectively. During those years, Syrians consistently ranked second, followed by Albanians.
Notably, in 2022, Romania, rather than Sweden, had the highest naturalization rate within the EU.
Expulsion statistics
Despite the steady trend of Moroccans gaining EU citizenship, recent data paints a contrasting picture regarding expulsions. Statistics from Eurostat and Schengen News revealed that Moroccans were among the top nationalities subject to expulsion orders in the EU during the first quarter of 2024. Both Moroccans and Algerians accounted for 7% of all expulsion orders issued.
France and Germany led in issuing expulsion directives, with France accounting for 34,190 orders and Germany issuing 15,400.