Moroccans Among Top 3 Recipients of EU Citizenship in 2024

Initially, Moroccans topped the list of recipients of EU citizenships in 2021 and 2022, but now hold steady at second place.

Rabat – Moroccans were the second largest group to receive EU citizenships in 2024, according to a new report from the European Union’s statistical office, Eurostat.

The data released on March 27 shows that the EU granted 1.2 million people citizenship, representing an increase of 11.6% or more than 122,000 people compared to 2023.

The number also shows an increase by 54.5% compared to 2014.

The majority of the citizenships were granted by Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Syrians topped the list of beneficiaries in 2024, with 110,100 new citizenships granted.

Moroccans came second with 97,100 granted citizenships, followed by Albanians (48,000).

The results show that Morocco continues to maintain its position.

In 2023, Moroccans were also identified as the second largest group that received citizenship from EU member states, with 106,500 beneficiaries.

Syrian beneficiaries maintained their first position, with Albanians in third.

In 2023, the overall number of EU citizenships granted to people reached 1.1 million, representing an increase of 6.1% of 60,200 people compared to 2022.

However, in 2021 and 2022, Morocco was first, holding the largest group of EU citizenship recipients, with a total of 86,200 and 112,700 citizenships, respectively.

Syrians initially ranked second in those years, followed by Albanians.

Sweden now records the highest naturalization rate among EU countries, taking the lead from Romania.

In 2025, Eurostat said Moroccan nationals received 188,400 first residence permits in EU countries in 2024. The number makes them the third largest group of documented non-EU citizens in their respective host countries across the EU. This places Morocco behind Ukraine (295,600) and India (192,400) in the ranking.