Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007
The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is produced by central Government to measure degrees of deprivation under specific domains across the country.
The data contained in the Index is referable to small communities of around 1,500 residents. These areas are known as ‘Super Output Areas' (SOAs). In total, there are 32,482 such areas across England and everyone either lives or works in one. There are 476 Super Output Areas in total in the Leeds local authority area.
The rankings in the Index are listed such that no 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived nationally. The most deprived SOA in Leeds is ranked 113 which puts it in the worst 0.3% nationally.
Deprivation and domains
The IMD provides statistics on seven separate aspects of deprivation. These are known as domains:
- Income deprivation
- Employment deprivation
- Health deprivation and disability
- Education, Skills and Training deprivation
- Barriers to Housing and Services
- Living Environment Deprivation
- Crime
The Index provides a score and rank for each area under each of the seven domains as well as a general overall score. The Index is therefore used as a tool in identifying areas of greatest need with a view to directing public funding to those areas.
Leeds Ahead focuses its work on areas of the city that fall within the 20% most deprived on the national Index.
