Indices of Deprivation 2004

The Indices of Deprivation (ID) 2004 are measures of deprivation for every Super Output Area and local authority area in England. It combines a number of indicators across seven domains (Income, Employment, Heath deprivation and disability, Education, skills and training deprivation, Barriers to housing and services, Living environment deprivation, and Crime) into a single deprivation score and rank for each area.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) commissioned the Social Disadvantage Research Centre (SDRC) at the Department of Social Policy and Social Research at the University of Oxford to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID 2000) for England. Following two extensive public consultations, an academic peer review and a significant programme of work, the new Indices of Deprivation 2004 were produced.

The Concept of Multiple Deprivation

The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (IMD 2004) is a measure of multiple deprivation at the small area level. The model of multiple deprivation which underpins the IMD 2004 is based on the idea of distinct dimensions of deprivation which can be recognised and measured separately. These are experienced by individuals living in an area. People may be counted in one or more of the domains, depending on the number of types of deprivation that they experience. The overall IMD is conceptualised as a weighted area level aggregation of these specific dimensions of deprivation.

Domains and Indicators

The IMD 2004 contains seven Domains of deprivation: Income deprivation, Employment deprivation, Health deprivation and disability, Education, skills and training deprivation, Barriers to Housing and Services, Living environment deprivation and Crime. Each Domain contains a number of indicators. The criteria for inclusion of these indicators are that they should be 'domain specific' and appropriate for the purpose (as direct as possible measures of that form of deprivation); measuring major features of that deprivation (not conditions just experienced by a very small number of people or areas); up-to-date; capable of being updated on a regular basis; statistically robust; and available for the whole of England at a small area level in a consistent form.

Data Time Point, Spatial Scale and Denominators

Where possible, the indicators relate to 2001. The Domains, the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 and the two supplementary Indices (Income Deprivation Affecting Children and Income Deprivation Affecting Older People) are all presented at Super Output Area (SOA) Lower Layer. Summaries of the IMD 2004 are presented at district, county and Primary Care Trust (PCT) levels. When 2001 Census numerators were used, the denominators were also drawn from the Census. However, when non-Census numerators were used, the denominators were mainly based on the 2001 Mid-Year Estimates (MYEs).