Why do Latino immigrants outlive most Americans?

... and their grandkids won't

Latino immigrants live a lot longer than most Americans. And it’s a bit of a mystery.

Especially since most have less money, fewer healthcare options, and are more often overweight … all factors that lead to shorter lives. It’s such a surprising finding that researchers call it the Latino Paradox—and no one fully understands it.

In fact, if Latino immigrants formed their own country, they’d be sitting near the top of the global life expectancy charts. Latino immigrant men in the U.S. live to about 81 years on average, and women about 84. That’s on par with Japan or Switzerland. Meanwhile, white American men clock in around 75, and Black American men around 70 – eleven years fewer.

So what’s going on?

It’s Not a Statistical Fluke

Skeptics have tried to explain it away.

Some blamed “Salmon Bias” — the idea that immigrants go home to die, so their deaths aren’t counted. Interesting theory, but when researchers followed real migration and death data, the math didn’t hold up.

Others pointed to the “Healthy Migrant Effect”: the theory that crossing a border selects for the strong. Only the tough make it, since you don’t walk 500 miles with a toddler on your back if you’re frail.

That’s part of it. But it doesn’t explain why Puerto Ricans — born U.S. citizens — or Cuban exiles who fled by plane or raft, also enjoy the same bonus years.

Something else is happening.

Social Ties and Strong Minds

There’s growing evidence that psychological and cultural factors play a big role.

Latino families often live in multi-generational households. Abuelas aren’t in nursing homes — they’re watching the kids. That’s not just sweet — it’s protective. People with strong social ties tend to live longer, and active elders stay sharper and healthier.

Bilingualism appears to strengthen the brain and even delay cognitive decline. And religion plays a role, too. Many Latinos are part of close-knit church communities that offer emotional and material support. That’s a strong buffer against depression and despair.

And here’s a stunning stat: Latinos have half the suicide rate of white Americans. In 2020, the suicide death rate for Latinos was 7.5 per 100,000, compared to 16.9 for non-Hispanic whites.

Fat, Smoking and Strange Biology

Here’s where it gets even more baffling.

Latinos have higher rates of obesity than whites — but don’t suffer the same levels of diabetes or heart disease. Some scientists think it’s because of fat distribution. Subcutaneous fat (under the skin) may be less dangerous than visceral fat (around your organs). And Latinos tend to have more of the former.

Another clue? Their food isn’t magic, but just isn’t garbage. Beans, rice, fresh veggies, lean meats — way better for you than cheeseburgers and Doritos.

Hard work is another factor. Latino immigrants are much more likely to have jobs that require them to move their bodies. The typical immigrant isn’t sitting in a chair working on a computer all day.

And here’s a smoking gun: Latino immigrants smoke less. A lot less.

Smoking is the number one lifestyle killer in America — more than booze, cars, guns, drugs, and suicides combined. Some researchers think smoking alone could explain 70% of the life expectancy gap between Latinos and whites.

It might not be that Latino immigrants are doing something magical but that the rest of us are just self-sabotaging.

Yet the Latino Paradox doesn’t last forever.

Americanization Kills

As the immigrant diet and culture Americanizes, the health benefits fade. Second-generation Latinos tend to lose the advantage, and by the third generation, it’s mostly gone.

Over time, the kids and grandkids of immigrants adopt – along with other things – some of the worst parts of American life. Processed food, sedentary jobs, higher rates of smoking and drinking, and weaker family bonds. The tight-knit support system weakens. Depression, obesity, and drug use creep in.

The Big Picture

Good health isn’t just about kale and gym memberships. It’s about culture, purpose, habits, family, and community. Latino immigrants arrive with all of that, and their bodies reflect it.

But the longer they stay in America, the more they lose the things that made them thrive.

If you want the full breakdown, including how Mexico spends 1/6 of what the U.S. does on healthcare but still has comparable life spans, check out my video. You might just pick up some lifesaving ideas.

Until next time,

—Ken