Newly arrived immigrants are healthier than their Canadian-born counterparts, but can then expect their health to decline the longer they stay in Canada

Data from surveys of immigrants showed that those who had been in the country for 10 years or longer reported being less healthy than residents born in Canada. Not all newly arrived immigrants were healthier than the Canadian-born. Newly arrived immigrants from North Africa, the Middle East and Asia reported higher levels of fair or poor health than the Canadian-born. Immigrants are expected to make up one-quarter of the population by 2031 from the 20% recorded in the 2006 census.