Background

The English indices of deprivation provide a set of relative measures of deprivation for small areas in England called lower super output areas (LSOAs), based on 37 separate indicators, organised across seven different domains of deprivation:

  • Income Deprivation
  • Employment Deprivation
  • Education, Skills and Training Deprivation
  • Health Deprivation and Disability
  • Crime
  • Barriers to Housing and Services
  • Living Environment Deprivation

The index of multiple deprivation (IMD) is the most widely used of the indices and is an overall measure of multiple deprivation experienced by people living in an area and is calculated for every Lower layer Super Output Area (LSOA), or neighbourhood, in England. Every such neighbourhood in England is ranked according to its level of deprivation relative to that of other areas. The IMD is calculated by combing the seven domains, using appropriate weights.

  • Income Deprivation 22.5%
  • Employment Deprivation 22.5%
  • Education, Skills and Training Deprivation 13.5%
  • Health Deprivation and Disability 13.5%
  • Crime 9.3%
  • Barriers to Housing and Services 9.3%
  • Living Environment Deprivation 9.3%

In addition to the IMD, there are the seven domain-level indices (listed above), and two supplementary indices: the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index and the Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index. DCLG have produced a useful overview infographic click here to open the summary

As far as is possible, each indicator is based on data from the most recent time point available.

It is important to note that these statistics are a measure of relative deprivation, not affluence, and to recognise that not every person in a highly deprived area will themselves be deprived. Likewise, there will be some deprived people living in the least deprived areas.

A range of summary measures are available for higher-level geographies including local authority districts and upper tier local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, and clinical commissioning groups. These are based on the geographic boundaries for these areas at the time of publication.