What is deprivation?
An introduction to what deprivation means in everyday terms and why it is more than income alone.
The Index of Multiple Deprivation can feel technical. These short explainers introduce the key ideas behind deprivation statistics in England so that anyone can understand what the data is telling them.
The guides below answer common questions about deprivation, IMD 2025 and how the data is used. Each explainer focuses on a single topic and uses clear, plain language.
An introduction to what deprivation means in everyday terms and why it is more than income alone.
Explains what the IMD is, why it exists and how it describes relative deprivation across England.
Sets out the seven domains of deprivation and the two supplementary indices used in IMD 2025.
Explains deciles, how they divide England into ten groups and how to interpret them.
Shows how quintiles group areas into five bands and why some organisations prefer them.
Describes how maps reveal patterns of deprivation and support planning and communication.
Explains how postcodes link to statistical areas and what an IMD result for your neighbourhood really means.
A short primer on the statistical geographies used for deprivation and other official statistics.
Clarifies that IMD is an area based measure and cannot say whether a particular person is deprived.
Looks at practical uses of IMD data for services, funding, research and local decision making.
Sets out what IMD cannot do and highlights good practice when interpreting the data.
Summarises key updates to the most recent release and what that means for comparing results.
Report the methodology for creating a deprivation indices at postcode sector level