Term: Second Generation (and higher)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2022-12-08

Definition:

The term "second generation" refers to individuals born inside the receiving country with at least one parent born in another country (i.e., the offspring of first-generation migrants e.g., "second generation Asian"). Higher-order generations express greater distance from the migrant ancestors’ generation, although such information is rarely available in epidemiological studies. Only the first generation are migrants, second generation are not migrants although the term is commonly used in association with "migrant".

Related concepts 

• Immigration / Migration Overview - Links to Immigration / Migration Data and Related Concepts and Glossary Terms

Related terms 

• First Generation
• Migrant / Migration

References 

• Urquia ML, Moineddin R, Jha P, O'Campo PJ, McKenzie K, Glazier RH, Henry DA, Ray JG. Sex ratios at birth after induced abortion. CMAJ 2016;188(9):E18-190. [Abstract] (View)

Term used in 

• Wanigaratne S, Uppal P, Bhangoo M, Januwalla A, Singal D, Urquia ML. Sex ratios at birth among second-generation mothers of South Asian ethnicity in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective population-based cohort study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2018;Epub ahead of print. [Abstract] (View)