The European Commission released data from 2020 regarding new citizenships within the EU. Italy granted the most new citizenships, with 18% of the EU total.
In 2020, 729 000 people acquired citizenship of an EU Member State where they lived. That was an increase from 706 400 (3%) in 2019. The increase was due to Spain, Netherlands, Sweden and Portugal granting more citizenships than in 2019.
Spain recorded an increase of 27,300 citizenships over 2019, followed by the Netherlands (+21 800), Sweden (+16 000), and Portugal (+11 000).
On the other hand, there was a decrease in absolute terms in France, Germany, Belgium and Romania compared to 2019.
As in 2019, the majority (85%) of those who obtained the citizenship of an EU Member State in 2020 were previously citizens of a non-EU country or stateless. Former citizens of another EU Member State accounted for 13% of the total number of citizenships acquired.
Moroccans, Syrians and Albanians main recipients of citizenship
In 2020, Moroccans were the largest group among new EU-citizens. In total, 68 900 Moroccans acquired citizenship, of which 86% were in Spain, Italy or France. Of the 50,200 Syrians who acquired EU, 49% of them were in Sweden. Also, of the 40,500 Albanians with new EU citizenship, 70% of them acquired citizenship of Italy.
Similarly, some 28,700 Romanians acquired citizenship, 40% of which was in Italy. 21,100 Brazilians acquired citizenship, of which 72% were in Italy or Portugal. Other nationalities obtaining a significant number of Italian citizenships were Ukrainians (18 100, 48% acquired citizenship of Poland, Germany or Italy), Indians (16 400, 34% acquired citizenship of Italy), and Pakistanis (16 000, 35% acquired citizenship of Italy).
EU citizens acquiring citizens of another member state
Romanians (28 700 persons), Poles (12 500) and Italians (8 200) remained the three largest groups of EU citizens acquiring citizenship of another EU Member State. This was the same as in 2018 and 2019.
Italy granted the most new citizenships – 131,300 or 18% of the EU total. Spain was in second place with 126,300 (17%) and Germany followed with 111,200 (15%). France (86 500 or 12%), and Sweden (80 200 or 11%) completed the top 5, accounting for 73% of new citizenships granted in the EU in 2020.
All statistics are courtesy of Eurostat
