Trends in Naturalization In this brief, we examine changes in
the number of naturalized citizens and the rate of
naturalization. We also explore the size and characteristics of
the pool of immigrants in the United States now or soon to be
eligible to naturalize. Core findings include: - Beginning in
the mid-1990s, the number of naturalized citizens rose for the
first time in decades, from 6.5 to 11 million citizens by 2002;
- The share of legal immigrants who had naturalized rose to 49
percent in 2002 after a steep downward trend—from 64 percent in
1970 to 39 percent in 1996; - Despite rising numbers and rates,
a large pool of immigrants; almost 8 million;is now eligible to
naturalize. 2.7 million live in California; - Another 2.7
million legal immigrants are likely to soon become eligible to
naturalize; - The eligible immigrants who have not yet
naturalized differ significantly from recently naturalized
citizens. For example, those not yet naturalized have more
limited English language skills; have less educ