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Index of Multiple Deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) analysis of LEP comparators and North East LEP LAs

Standards of Living
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What is the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)?

The English Indices of Deprivation values measure the difference in relative levels of deprivation in 32,844 small areas or neighbourhoods, called Lower-layer Super Output Areas, in England. The general Indices of Deprivation (IoD) 2019 figures are comprised of separate domains of deprivation which combine with different weights. These domains are: Income; Employment; Health Deprivation and Disability; Education; Skills Training; Crime; Barriers to Housing and Services; and Living Environment.

It should be noted that there will always be 10% of areas in the bottom decile, so this can only show relative change over time. As this report shows, this means deprivation in England has been becoming more concentrated in the North East.

Index of Multiple Deprivation Rankings Data

Out of a ranking of 317 local authorities in England, 1 being the lowest rank, the seven local authorities in the North East LEP are all ranked below 132. All of the seven local authorities have fallen in rank from 2015 to 2019, with the biggest fall being in Gateshead, which fell from 79 to 54. Northumberland is the local authority with the highest rank in 2019, with a rank of 131 and South Tyneside has the lowest with a rank of 26. The average rank across the seven local authorities was 85 in 2015 and 73 in 2019. 

There are 32,844 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England. In 2019, the North East LEP area was home to 207 of the 10% most deprived LSOAs in England, which was an increase from 171 in 2015. A high proportion (17%) of North East LEP LSOAs were in the most deprived 10%. Liverpool City Region had the highest proportion of LSOAs in the most deprived 10%, at 34% of LSOAs. The West of England LEP had the lowest proportion. The North East LEP proportion was slightly lower, but similar, to Leeds City Region and Sheffield City Region.

The third chart shows the categories that form the overall IMD ranking and the proportion of North East LEP LSOAs that are in the most deprived 10% within each of these categories. The seven categories relate to: Income Deprivation, Employment Deprivation, Education, Skills and Training Deprivation, Health Deprivation and Disability, Crime, Barriers to Housing and Services, and Living Environment Deprivation as well as the overall IMD average. North East LEP had very low levels of deprivation in Barriers to Housing and Services and Living Environment Deprivation, but high levels of deprivation in Employment and Health categories. The other indicators hovered around the average IMD proportion.