Migration and mortality: the experience of birthplace groups in Australia

"Wide diversity exists in the mortality experience of different birthplace groups in Australia, and this also occurs with respect to their cause of death profiles. Most migrant groups experience lower mortality in Australia than in their country of origin, and most experience lower mortality than the Australian-born population. In the latter case the main [groups] are the Scots, Irish, Poles, South Pacific Islanders, Scandinavian men and North American women. Exceptionally high levels of survival occur among Greeks and Italians in Australia. The lower risk of mortality from heart disease is a principal reason for the deficit between observed and expected deaths of most migrant groups in Australia." The analysis is based on deaths of those aged 15-74 by birthplace, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the years 1980, 1981, and 1982.