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Immigrant New Yorkers Overall Healthier Than U.S.-born Counterparts, New York City Health Department Study Finds

NYC Immigrants Live Longer and Tend To Make Healthier Lifestyle Choices

Immigrants Make Up 47 Percent Of NYC Health Care Providers And Technicians

April 17, 2025 — Today, the New York City Health Department (NYC Health Department) released a new report that highlights the significant contributions of immigrant New Yorkers to the city’s health and prosperity, while emphasizing the critical need to address unique health challenges that immigrants face. The report shows that 81 percent of New York City immigrants have been in the U.S. for more than 10 years, 13 percent have been in the U.S. between 6 to 10 years, and 6 percent have been in the U.S. less than 5 years

“New York has always been a city of immigrants, and today it’s one of the most diverse places in the world,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “Immigrants continue to be key to the city’s growth, success, and culture. Investing in the health and well-being of immigrant New Yorkers helps our whole city and country thrive. That’s why our mission is to protect and promote — without exception — the health of all New Yorkers.”

“This report demonstrates the importance of effective partnership and community-centered services to continue improving health outcomes for immigrant New Yorkers," said Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro. "At our office, we know that the health of immigrant communities constitutes the health of New York City. As a New Yorker who immigrated to the U.S. with my family at a young age, I am proud to see how far the city has come in supporting immigrant New Yorkers in healthcare access and services.”

The report, The Health of Immigrants in New York City (PDF), reveals several key findings:

  • Longevity: Immigrants in NYC have a higher life expectancy than U.S.-born residents, with an average lifespan of 83.5 years compared to 79.9 years for U.S.-born New Yorkers.
  • Healthy Behaviors: Immigrants are less likely to smoke than U.S.-born residents. The smoking rate among immigrants overall is 7 percent vs. 11 percent among U.S.-born New Yorkers. Among immigrant women, the rate is even lower at 4 percent.
  • Lower Mortality Rates: Despite facing barriers, immigrants have death rates that are 28 percent lower for heart disease and 19 percent lower for cancer, compared with U.S.-born New Yorkers.
  • Essential Workforce: Immigrants play a crucial role in NYC's health care system, comprising 47% of the workforce in health care practitioner and technical occupations. They also contribute significantly to social services and other essential sectors.

However, the report also underscores the health challenges faced by the city’s immigrant population, including:

  • Lack of Health Insurance: Immigrant adults are nearly twice as likely as U.S.-born adults to lack access to health insurance.
  • Limited Access to Mental Health Care: Immigrants with depression are less likely to receive mental health treatment compared to U.S.-born residents with depression.
  • Structural Barriers: Systemic issues such as bias against immigrants, racism, unfair access to employment, and variable access to translation and interpretation services create significant obstacles to health for immigrants.

The Health of Immigrants in New York City emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address health inequities and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, receive quality health care and essential social services.

To support immigrant health, the report recommends that the city continue the following strategies:

  • Reduce language and cultural barriers to meet basic needs for housing, education and health care
  • Engage immigrant communities to share resources about available services and their rights
  • Focus resources of diverse institutions to the groups most in need
  • Eliminate discriminatory eligibility requirements that prevent New Yorkers from accessing needed public benefits and programs because of their immigration status

We encourage community-based organizations, funders, policymakers and all those who care about the health and well-being of New Yorkers to use these data to inform their work.

"This report shines a light on the strength, contributions, and potential of our immigrant neighbors,” said Emily Goldberg-Hall, Director of Health Initiatives at African Services Committee. “But it also underscores the urgency of continuing to break down stigmas and barriers, so we can support a thriving immigrant community and safely welcome newcomers."

“The Health of Immigrants in New York City highlights the vital role immigrants have played in fostering a healthier New York,” said Sudha Acharya, Executive Director, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS). “We firmly believe that access to healthcare will not only allow immigrant New Yorkers to thrive, but also enhance the overall wellbeing of our city.”

“As a community-based healthcare provider, we see first-hand the many needs and challenges faced by immigrant New Yorkers that are described in this monumental report,” said Kaushal Challa, CEO of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. “We will continue to work with the Health Department, community-based providers, and other stakeholders to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers can access needed health and social services.”

“Immigrant communities are the backbone of New York, yet they are facing unprecedented challenges right now that add pressure and stress to their daily lives,” said Rebecca Telzak, Deputy Director of Make the Road New York. “In the midst of this uncertainty, we need to ensure that every New Yorker—whether their family has been in this city for generations or weeks—has the resources available to live full and healthy lives. We are proud to partner with the NYC Health Department on this vital report that outlines key measures needed to invest in the health and well-being of our communities."

"As a community, we must recognize that the lack of access to health insurance creates significant barriers for immigrants seeking quality healthcare,” said Myoungmi Kim, President and CEO of Korean Community Services. “Too many individuals in our immigrant community are left without the coverage they need, not because they don’t value their health but because they face language barriers, complex eligibility requirements, and a lack of awareness about available resources. To address this, we must expand outreach and actively engage with our immigrant communities to provide the information and support they need. Through education, advocacy, and community initiatives, we can bridge these gaps and create a healthcare system that serves everyone."

"Immigrant health is New York health. As diverse, vibrant, and deeply rooted communities, Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are nearly one in five New Yorkers and the fastest growing population in NYC,” said Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. “We are over 65 percent immigrants and face multiple challenges to accessing healthcare, including language and cultural barriers. We applaud the Health Department’s efforts to continue to uplift the important health needs of our communities, especially at a time when our communities fear potential cuts to critical safety net supports. We must all stand up to support the health of New Yorkers that struggle the most.”

“Children are our future. Having healthy parents and caregivers is critical to optimizing a child's well-being, regardless of immigrant status,” said Alan Shapiro, Cofounder and Medical Director of Terra Firma. “By providing access to care for all New Yorkers, we are improving the safety net and health for immigrant families and ensuring children are given the chance to reach their full potential.”

Over the past decade, New York City has made significant progress in assessing and promoting immigrant health, including the following:

  • In 2017, the City expanded its immigration legal services grant funding program to create a new $1.5 million “ActionNYC in NYC H+H” medical-legal partnership program, co-locating immigration attorneys in public hospitals and long-term care facilities.
  • The 2019 NYC Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived “alienage and citizenship status,” and “national origin,” by most employers, housing providers and providers of public accommodations in NYC. This guidance document also clearly outlines human rights protections for hospital patients.
  • In 2019, the City launched NYC Care, a program for individuals ineligible for health insurance. NYC Care is now the largest program of its kind in the nation, providing coordinated primary and specialty care services to 145,000 New Yorkers.

The New York City Health Department is committed not only to preventing illness, but to cultivating a thriving city where all residents, without exception, have the fair and just opportunity to be healthy.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Chantal Gomez / PressOffice@health.nyc.gov