The aim of the paper is to examine for the first time in Greece mortality by cause of death among immigrants. The analysis makes use of vital registration statistics for 2010–2012 and census data for 2011; standardised mortality ratios are estimated for four distinct groups: natives, migrants from EU-27 (excluding Greece), other Europeans (mainly Albanians) and those from all other countries (mainly Asia/Africa). All immigrants seem to experience favourable mortality from neoplasms but higher mortality from external causes in comparison to Greeks. The results regarding cardiovascular diseases are mixed. Persons originating in Asian/African regions exhibit higher mortality from infectious diseases and TB. The findings highlight the specificities of immigrant mortality which stem from pre-existing conditions in the country of origin as well as from the adverse socio-economic environment in the country of destination. As immigrants experience some excessive ‘avoidable’ mortality implementation of appropriate measures should be a social policy priority. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Migrant groups Standardised mortality ratios Greece Cause of death

Europe human sex difference Ethnic Groups Internationality statistics and numerical data Confidence Intervals ethnic group comparative study international cooperation ethnology Confidence interval Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors Greece Retrospective Studies Sex Factors retrospective study cause of death Vital Statistics mortality