This data may be out of date — the source may have published a newer figure.
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Citizenship grants
Number of people granted British citizenship through naturalisation or registration.
144 thousands
+2.9% vs previous period
As of 2024
Historical trend
Trend summary
The Home Office granted 231,597 British citizenships in 2023, a record high.
Trend
- Citizenship grants rose sharply from around 100,000 in 2019 to a record 231,597 in 2023.
- The rise reflects both a growing population of eligible long-term residents and a post-pandemic processing backlog being cleared.
- EU citizens account for a rising share of grants following the end of free movement.
Context
- Home Office publishes citizenship statistics annually; they cover naturalisations and registrations combined.
- Eligibility requirements differ for naturalisation (typically 5 years residence) and registration (various routes including children born in the UK).
Trend summary generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 on 23 May 2024. Contains no editorial judgement — describes direction, magnitude, and official projections only.
About this indicator
- Source
- Home Office
- Update frequency
- Annual
- Last updated
- 23 January 2025 Data may be out of date
- Licence
- OGL v3
- Rising trend is…
- Positive
Statistics
- Latest
- 144.0 thousands
- Period high
- 144.0
- Period low
- 118.0
- Period average
- 129.4