Study: Children of North African Immigrants Face Higher Mortality Risk in France

The life expectancy of people born to Moroccan, Algerian or Tunisian parents is low compared to that of people from southern Europe. The phenomenon of social disparities plays a major role, due to its impact on health and quality of life.

The study was based on a significant sample of people aged 18 to 64 whose parents are from North Africa and Europe. Initiated in 1999, "mortality monitoring was carried out through linked death records until 2010".

The mortality levels of the new and old generations of immigrants were compared to a reference sample. The study showed that the probability of dying for people born to North African immigrants is 276/1000, compared to 162/1000 for those born to southern European parents.

This probability concerns men rather than women. The results of the study attribute the responsibility for the high mortality rate to access to care, lower socioeconomic status, health-damaging behaviors (smoking, alcohol) and chronic stress due to daily discrimination. The professional situation is also pointed out in the Report.