Citizenship Merit Badge History

Earned through 195278,814

Best year195218,926 earned

All-time popularity#156official, as of 2020#163by 2025 (estimate)

Earned by Year

First earned in 1948. Peak year 1952 with 18,926. Hover over or tap a year for its numbers.

194812,764 earned#16 of 111

194913,977 earned#17 of 111

195016,055 earned#17 of 111

195117,092 earned#17 of 111

195218,926 earned#14 of 120

"#14 of 120" means the badge was number 14 of the 120 merit badges earned that year. The 2025 all-time place is an estimate, because the counts for 2021 to 2025 are worked out from each year's official ranking and the total number of merit badges earned that year.

194812,764#16 of 111

194913,977#17 of 111

195016,055#17 of 111

195117,092#17 of 111

195218,926#14 of 120

Grand total through 1952:

This page keeps growing. More of this badge's history, including its patches and pamphlets, is being checked and will be added once it is confirmed.

Citizenship: workbook data

Printings (21)

Have	Year	Month	Cover	Back	Run	©	BSA #	HC	Notes
x	1949	December	6X	blank	5M		3290		prototype 1
x	1950	December	6X	blank	25M		3290	HCH	prototype 2
	1951	not made
	1952	not made
x	1953	June	6A-1	back-6b-1	30M	1953	3290	HCI, HCOV2
x	1953	November	6A-2	back-6b-1	25M	1953	3290
x	1954	June	6A-2	back-6b-2	40M	1953	3290
x	1955	June	6A-2	back-6b-2	50M	1953	3290	HCJV1
x	1956	September	6A-2	back-6b-2	40M	1953	3290
x	1957	June	6A-2	back-6b-2	45M	1953	3290
x	1958	September	6A-2	back-6c-2	50M	1953	3290	HCJV1
x	1959	November	6A-2	back-6c-2	50M	1953	3290	HCJV2
x	1960	September	6A-2	back-6d	50M	1953	3290	HCJV2
x	1961	July	6A-2	back-6e	50M	1953	3290
x	1962	June	6A-2	back-6f	60M	1953	3290	HCJV2
x	1963	May	6A-2	back-6g	60M	1953	3290	HCK
x	1964	April	6A-2	back-6h	60M	1953	3290	HCQ
x	1965	March	6A-2	back-6h	60M	1953	3290	HCL, HCQ
x	1966	September	7A-1	back-7	60M	1966	3290	HCL
x	1967	November	7A-1	back-7	55M	1966	3290
x	1968	May	7A-1	back-7	55M	1966	3290	HCL
x	1969	September	7A-1	back-7	60M	1966	3290	HCN
x	1970	September	7A-2	back-7	80M	1966	3290	HCM
	1971	not made

Earned and rank by year

Year	Earned	Rank	Of
1948	12,764	16	111
1949	13,977	17	111
1950	16,055	17	111
1951	17,092	17	111
1952	18,926	14	120