How does origin affect migrant mortality advantage in Spain?

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Migrants in high-income countries often display lower mortality rates than native populations, a phenomenon termed the "migrant mortality paradox."
• Understanding this paradox is crucial for developing effective social policies for migrant populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how region of birth influences the migrant mortality advantage in Spain.
• To analyze differences in mortality rates among various migrant groups and compare them to the native Spanish population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Spanish mortality data spanning from 2002 to 2019.
• Calculated death rates by region of origin for individuals aged 30-90 years.
• Smoothed mortality curves using B-splines and compared temporary life expectancies.

Main Results:

• Asian and Latin American migrants showed a substantial mortality advantage over Spanish natives.
• African and North American males also demonstrated significant advantages, while females from these regions and European migrants experienced disadvantages.
• Female migrants generally had a lower mortality advantage compared to male migrants from the same origin.

Conclusions:

• The mortality advantage for migrants from low-income countries over those from industrialized nations likely stems from differing selection processes.
• Gender disparities in mortality advantage may be attributed to more rigorous selection for male migrants or increased discrimination faced by female migrants.