• We examined weighted chronic disease risk index (CDRI) scores in older Australians.

• There was significant variation in CDRI score across immigrant groups. Eastern European and Middle East/North African immigrants had the highest scores.

• Immigrants had higher relative risks (RRs) of smoking than Australian-born participants, lower RRs of excessive alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity, and no difference in RR for physical inactivity and insufficient fruit/vegetable intake. Participants born in the Middle East/North Africa, Eastern/Central Europe, and Western Europe had higher mean CDRI scores than Australian-born participants, while participants born in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central/South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the United Kingdom/Ireland had lower scores. CDRI score among immigrants generally approximated that of Australian-born participants with greater years lived in Australia.

• With greater years in Australia, CDRI scores approximated those of non-immigrants.