Comparative mortality studies with respect to nationality have not yet been published in a comprehensive way for the Federal Republic of Germany. A recent special analysis of causes of death for German mortality statistics of the year 1986 indicates a lower mortality risk among the migrant compared to the indigenous population. Apart from potential biases, such as underreporting of nationality of death cases or overestimation of the size of the non-indigenous population in Germany, from the perspective of socioepidemiology the possibility arises that selection processes lastingly affect the mortality risk of migrants. The dependence of the length of stay from the quality of the state of health or rather a plausible increased likelihood of remigration in case of chronic disease may constitute important influences, which could explain the differences in mortality between indigenous and migrant population. © 1993 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel.

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statistical analysis Germany immigrant demography Population Surveillance human risk assessment controlled study comparative study health status Aged migrant worker male female Article major clinical study adult English Abstract migration Transients and Migrants cause of death mortality Middle Age health survey