Indices of deprivation 2004
The index of multiple deprivation (IMD) is based on the concept of measuring different dimensions of deprivation individually, and then combining them to give an overall score. The latest IMD was published in 2004 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
The purpose of the index is to identify areas of need, so scores are produced based on small geographical areas of a consistent population size (around 1,500 people) called super output areas (SOAs). Within its 21 wards, Lambeth contains 177 of London’s 4,765 SOAs.
People may be counted as deprived in one or more of the 7 dimensions (or domains) depending on the number of types of deprivation that they experience. The domains are:
- Income deprivation (further split into two: income deprivation affecting children and older people)
- Employment deprivation
- Health deprivation and disability
- Education, skills and training deprivation
- Barriers to housing and services
- Living environment deprivation
- Crime
These seven domains are made up of 37 separate indicators from a variety of sources relating to 2001. They are then combined to produce a single score for each SOA in the country. These are then ranked to compare the areas across England.
Lambeth
Lambeth performs poorly in three of the indices, with a high number of SOAs appearing in the top 5% most deprived in Lambeth:
- Rank of crime and disorder (37 SOAs)
- Rank of income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) (19 SOAs)
- Rank of income (18 SOAs)
Comparison with London
It is important to compare this with the pattern that emerges at the London level.
- The rank of crime and disorder is highlighted with the number of Lambeth SOAs in the top 5% most deprived in London climbing to 50.
- The IDACI grows slightly with 24 Lambeth SOAs falling into the top 5% most deprived.
- Rank of income deprivation affecting older people index (IDAOPI) climbs from 10 SOAs in the top 50% most deprived in Lambeth to 19 SOAs
- The rank of income falls to just 11 Lambeth SOAs.
The IDAOPI indicates the percentage of people over 60 who are benefit claimants. This indicates that the picture for Lambeth compares poorly to the rest of London, therefore the number in the top 5% most deprived is higher when compared to other boroughs.
However, in several other indices Lambeth rates well, with very low representation in the top 5% most deprived:
- Rank of barriers to housing and services (1 SOA)
- Rank of living environment (1)
- Rank of health deprivation and disability (2)
- Rank of multiple deprivation (3)
All of which have a low number of SOAs in the top 5% most deprived (i.e. less than 4).
Although only 24 (14%) of Lambeth's 177 SOAs are ranked in the 10% most deprived in England, some 139 (79%) are ranked within the 30% most deprived, suggesting that whilst deprivation in Lambeth is concentrated in two wards (Coldharbour & Vassal), it has wide extent across the Borough.
- Initial briefing on indices of deprivation 2004. Borough maps showing the domains of deprivation at SOA level, including explanatory notes and headline findings.
- Deprivation data at SOA level by ward in Excel format.
- What are super-output areas? Explanatory note on super output areas and how to locate the SOA for a given address.
- Indices of deprivation 2004 full report Full report from ODPM.
Maps showing super output area boundaries at street level