In 2023, EU countries granted citizenship to over 1 million foreign residents, a rise of over 6% from the previous year. Spain led with 240,200 citizenships, followed by Italy, Germany, and France. Despite its smaller population, Sweden ranked fifth in naturalisations but saw a significant decline of 24,400 citizens from 2022. Top nationalities for naturalisations included Syrian, Moroccan, and Albanian. Citizenship allows individuals to enjoy EU rights, including free movement and electoral participation across member states, underscoring the importance of citizenship in the EU framework.
Citizenship is the legal bond between an individual and a state, acquired by birth, naturalisation, or other means according to national legislation, says Eurostat.
Spain granted the largest number of citizenships in 2023, with a total of 240,200 naturalisations, a significant increase from previous years.
Sweden experienced the largest decrease in naturalisations, with 24,400 fewer citizens granted compared to 2022, highlighting potential changes in its citizenship policies.
Overall, the five leading EU countries—Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and Sweden—accounted for 78 percent of all new citizenships granted in the region.
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