10 most populous nations that don’t have birthright citizenship: list

By CP Staff
Monday, July 06, 2026

4. Nigeria

The most populous country in Africa, with approximately 242 million people, Nigeria — which gained independence on Oct. 1, 1960 — does not recognize birthright citizenship.

According to Chapter III, Article 25 of its 1999 constitution, those who can claim Nigerian citizenship by birth include “every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence, either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria.”

Citizenship at birth also includes “every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria” and “every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.”

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