1

1

2

2

Office of Immigration Statistics

PolIcy dIrectorate

Fact Sheet

deceMber 2007

Trends in Naturalization Rates 

bryan c. baker

IntroductIon

The naturalization rate of legal permanent residents 

(LPRs) may be considered a measure of assimilation 

and adaptation in the United States. Naturalization rates 

vary by demographic characteristic, legal basis for immigration, and the period during which LPR status was 

obtained. This Office of Immigration Statistics Fact Sheet 

illustrates that variation and shows how naturalization 

rates have changed over time.

data and Methods

Matched immigration and naturalization data for 1973

 Years refer to calendar years (January 1 to December 31).

through 2005 were obtained from administrative records 

maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. 

These records were restricted to immigrants at least 18 

years of age at the time LPR status was obtained to exclude children who may have derived citizenship from 

their parents. Naturalization rates were calculated as the 

proportion of LPRs becoming U.S. citizens by a given 

date or within a given period of time. These rates were 

calculated separately for each cohort of immigrants obtaining LPR status in the same year, and no adjustments 

were made for emigration or mortality.

FIndIngs

Through 2005, cumulative naturalization rates for the 

1973 through mid-1980’s cohorts approached 60 percent 

(see Figure 1). Rates were lower for the more recent cohorts, partly reflecting the lesser amount of time these 

immigrants have had to naturalize. Cumulative rates were 

particularly low for the 1989-1991 cohorts, which consisted disproportionately of Mexican immigrants who 

obtained LPR status under the Immigration Reform and 

Control Act (IRCA) of 1986; Mexican immigrants have 

historically had lower naturalization rates than other immigrants (see Figures 2 and 3). Standardized rates, the 

rates that would have been expected if each cohort exhibited the same birth region 

 Birth regions included Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Central American, Europe, 

Mexico, Oceania, South America, and other.

distribution of LPRs as the 

1995 cohort, were reasonably consistent with the crude 

rates for most cohorts and were much higher than the 

crude rates for the 1989-1991 cohorts.

The timing of naturalization has shifted with more 

recent cohorts becoming U.S. citizens sooner than earlier 

cohorts. Naturalization rates for the first 10 years in LPR 

status ranged from 30-35 percent for the 1973 to mid1980’s cohorts and were generally higher for more recent 

cohorts. After standardizing, the 10-year rates were consistently higher for more recent cohorts compared to 

earlier cohorts.

Asian immigrants had the highest cumulative naturalization rates and Mexican immigrants had among the lowest 

(see Figure 2). Asian immigrants naturalized at a rate of 

approximately 70 percent for the 1973 to mid-1980’s 

cohorts and 60-65 percent for the later cohorts. Mexican 

immigrants naturalized at a rate of 45-50 percent for the 

1970’s cohorts, 35-40 percent for the 1980’s cohorts, 

and 20-30 percent for the 1990’s cohorts.The higher rate 

for the 1989 cohort of Mexican LPRs and the subsequent 

lower rate for the 1990 cohort reflect naturalization 

propensities of different classes of IRCA-based LPRs. 

Europeans naturalized at a rate of approximately 40-50 

percent for the 1970’s and 1980’s cohorts and 50-60 

percent for the 1990’s cohorts. The higher rates for more 

recent cohorts of European LPRs reflect compositional 

changes, most notably the increase in refugees associated 

with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Figure 1. 

Naturalization Rates for 1973-1995 LPR Cohorts 

Through 2005 and within 10 Years of Obtaining 

LPR Status 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Cohort

Percent of Total

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Cumulative

10-year

Actual Standardized
2 DHS Office of Immigration Statistics

Across all regions, immigrants comprising the more recent cohorts 

were more likely to naturalize within 10 years of obtaining LPR 

status than were their earlier counterparts. Asian LPRs were the 

most likely to naturalize within 10 years, with approximate rates of 

40-50 percent for the 1970’s and 1980’s cohorts and 50-60 percent 

for the 1990’s cohorts. Mexican LPRs were the least likely to naturalize within 10 years, with approximate rates of 5-10 percent for 

the 1970’s through mid-1980’s cohorts and 15-30 percent for the 

more recent cohorts. Although Mexican LPRs were least likely to 

naturalize within ten years, they also exhibited the greatest relative 

increase in rates between the earliest and latest cohorts.

The comparison of 10-year naturalization rates to cumulative rates 

reveals that Mexican LPRs were slower to naturalize than European 

or Asian LPRs (see Figure 4). For the 1973 through mid-1980’s 

cohorts, the proportion of LPRs naturalizing within 10 years of obtaining LPR status out of all those naturalizing by the end of 2005 

was approximately 10-30 percent for Mexicans, 50-65 percent for 

Europeans, and 65-70 percent for Asians. 

conclusIon

The timing of naturalization has changed among cohorts of immigrants who obtained LPR status between 1973 and 1995. Recent 

immigrants, regardless of region of origin, were more likely to naturalize within 10 years of obtaining LPR status than earlier cohorts. 

These findings suggest that the cumulative lifetime naturalization 

rates of recent LPRs may exceed those of earlier cohorts as well. 

Future analysis will examine the upper bound on lifetime cumulative 

naturalization rates taking into account emigration and mortality.

suggested readIngs

Cornwell, Derekh, D.F., 2006. “Naturalization Rate Estimates: Stock 

vs. Flow,” Fact Sheet, Office of Immigration Statistics, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/

statistics/publications/ois_naturalizations_fs_2004.pdf

Rytina, Nancy, 2002. “IRCA Legalization Effects: Lawful Permanent 

Residence and Naturalization through 2001,” Office of Policy and 

Planning, Statistics Division, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization 

Service, http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/

irca0114int.pdf

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2007. “A Guide to Naturalization,” http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf

For More InForMatIon

Visit the Office of Immigration Statistics web page at http://www.

dhs.gov/immigrationstatistics

Figure 2.

Naturalization Rates for 1973-1995 LPR Cohorts 

Through 2005 by Region of Birth

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Cohort

Percent of Total

Europe

Asia

Mexico

All others

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Figure 3.

Naturalization Rates for 1973-1995 LPR Cohorts 

within 10 Years of Obtaining LPR Status by

Region of Birth

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Cohort

Percent of Total

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Europe

Asia

Mexico

All others

Figure 4.

Ratios of Naturalizations within 10 years

of Obtaining LPR Status to All Naturalizations 

through 2005 for 1973-1985 LPR Cohorts

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985

Cohort

Percent of Total

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Europe

Asia

Mexico

All others