Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)#
Last modified: 01 Jun 2026
UK LLC provides a dataset containing UK-wide harmonised measures of indices of multiple deprivation, an urban-rural indicator and population density.
More information about this dataset is available here.
IMD, urban/rural classification and population estimates#
This dataset is made up of the following three sources of data: Index of Multiple Deprivation, an Urban-Rural Indicator and Population Estimates.
The Index of Deprivation datasets differ across the four UK nations, but each provide small area measures of relative deprivation. Each national index ranks areas from most deprived to least deprived, based on measures of deprivation such as income, education, health and employment.
Urban-Rural classifications also differ across the four nations but overall provide an indicator of which areas rural and which are urban based on characteristics such as dwelling densities and distance to major towns and cities.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS), Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) produce national mid-year population estimates.
This dataset also includes harmonised variables for the Indices of Multiple Deprivation and Urban-Rural classification across the UK.
1. Summary#
imd_england
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| Dataset Descriptor | Dataset-specific Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Dataset in TRE | PLACE_imd_england |
| Citation (APA) | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration. (2025). Place based data: IMD England. UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC). https://doi.org/10.71760/ukllc-dataset-00424-01 |
| Download Citation | Citeproc JSON BibTeX RIS |
| Owner | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Authors | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Temporal Coverage | 01/2011 - 12/2020 |
| Geographical Coverage | England |
| Participant Count | None |
| Number of Variables | 16 |
| Number of Observations | 32844 |
| Key Link | https://guidebook.ukllc.ac.uk/docs/linked_geo_data/population_datasets/imd/imd |
| Keywords | IMD,deprivation,population,urban-rural |
| Latest Extract Date | TBC |
| Specific Restrictions to Data Use | None |
| Build a Data Request | https://explore.ukllc.ac.uk/ |
imd_northern_ireland
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| Dataset Descriptor | Dataset-specific Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Dataset in TRE | PLACE_imd_northern_ireland |
| Citation (APA) | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration. (2025). Place based data: IMD Northern Ireland. UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC). https://doi.org/10.71760/ukllc-dataset-00425-01 |
| Download Citation | Citeproc JSON BibTeX RIS |
| Owner | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Authors | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Temporal Coverage | 01/2011 - 12/2020 |
| Geographical Coverage | Northern Ireland |
| Participant Count | None |
| Number of Variables | 15 |
| Number of Observations | 890 |
| Key Link | https://guidebook.ukllc.ac.uk/docs/linked_geo_data/population_datasets/imd/imd |
| Keywords | IMD,deprivation,population,urban-rural |
| Latest Extract Date | TBC |
| Specific Restrictions to Data Use | None |
| Build a Data Request | https://explore.ukllc.ac.uk/ |
imd_scotland
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| Dataset Descriptor | Dataset-specific Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Dataset in TRE | PLACE_imd_scotland |
| Citation (APA) | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration. (2025). Place based data: IMD Scotland. UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC). https://doi.org/10.71760/ukllc-dataset-00426-01 |
| Download Citation | Citeproc JSON BibTeX RIS |
| Owner | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Authors | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Temporal Coverage | 01/2011 - 12/2020 |
| Geographical Coverage | Scotland |
| Participant Count | None |
| Number of Variables | 15 |
| Number of Observations | 6976 |
| Key Link | https://guidebook.ukllc.ac.uk/docs/linked_geo_data/population_datasets/imd/imd |
| Keywords | IMD,deprivation,population,urban-rural |
| Latest Extract Date | TBC |
| Specific Restrictions to Data Use | None |
| Build a Data Request | https://explore.ukllc.ac.uk/ |
imd_wales
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| Dataset Descriptor | Dataset-specific Information |
|---|---|
| Name of Dataset in TRE | PLACE_imd_wales |
| Citation (APA) | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration. (2025). Place based data: IMD Wales. UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC). https://doi.org/10.71760/ukllc-dataset-00427-01 |
| Download Citation | Citeproc JSON BibTeX RIS |
| Owner | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Authors | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration |
| Temporal Coverage | 01/2011 - 12/2020 |
| Geographical Coverage | Wales |
| Participant Count | None |
| Number of Variables | 16 |
| Number of Observations | 1909 |
| Key Link | https://guidebook.ukllc.ac.uk/docs/linked_geo_data/population_datasets/imd/imd |
| Keywords | IMD,deprivation,population,urban-rural |
| Latest Extract Date | TBC |
| Specific Restrictions to Data Use | None |
| Build a Data Request | https://explore.ukllc.ac.uk/ |
2. Variables#
imd_england
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| Variable Group | Variable | Description | Source | Date range of data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK LLC | avail_from_dt | label not available | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration | None |
| Geography | country | Country within the United Kingdom | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng | English indices of deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_barriers | English indices of deprivation 2019, Barriers to Housing and Services, presented as quintiles. 1= high barriers, 5= low barriers. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_crime | English indices of deprivation 2019, Crime, presented as quintiles. 1= high crime rates, 5= low crime rates. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_education | English indices of deprivation 2019, Education, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest education and skills, 5= highest education and skills. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_employment | English indices of deprivation 2019, Employment, presented as quintiles. 1=highest unemployment, 5= lowest unemployment. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_environment | English indices of deprivation 2019, Environment, presented as quintiles. 1= low quality environment, 5= high quality environment. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_health | English indices of deprivation 2019, Health, presented as quintiles. 1= high health deprivation, 5= low health deprivation. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019eng_income | English indices of deprivation 2019, Income, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest income, 5= highest income. | gov.uk | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019har | Consumer Data Research Centre's Harmonised Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | Geographic Data Service, Smart Data Research UK | 2019 |
| Geography | lsoa11cd_e | Lower Super Output Area code (2011) | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | mpe_eng_2020 | Mid-year (30 June) estimates of the usual resident population for Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England. 5 categories: <1200, 1200-1500, 1500-1600, 1600-1800 and >1800. | Office for National Statistics | 2020 |
| Geography | rgn11nm | Region within England | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | ur_eng_wal_2011 | 2011 Rural Urban Classification for England. 1= Urban major conurbation, 2= Urban minor conurbation, 3= Urban city and town, 4= Rural town and fringe, 5= Rural village and dispersed. | gov.uk | 2011 |
| Deprivation | ur_harm_2021 | 2021 UK Composite Rural Urban Classification. 1= Urban, 2= Rural, 3= More Rural. | My Society | 2021 |
imd_northern_ireland
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| Variable Group | Variable | Description | Source | Date range of data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK LLC | avail_from_dt | label not available | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration | None |
| Geography | country | Country within the United Kingdom | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_access | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, Access to Services, presented as quintiles. 1= strong access, 5= weak access. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_crime | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, presented as quintiles. 1= high crime rates, 5= low crime rates. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_education | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, Education, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest education, 5= highest education. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_employment | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, Employment, presented as quintiles. 1= highest unemployment, 5= lowest unemployment. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_environment | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, presented as quintiles. 1= low quality environment, 5= high quality environment. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_health | label not available | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2017ir_income | Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017, Income, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest income, 5= highest income. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2017 |
| Deprivation | imd2019har | Consumer Data Research Centre's Harmonised Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | Geographic Data Service, Smart Data Research UK | 2019 |
| Deprivation | mpe_ire_2020 | Mid-year (30 June) estimates of the usual resident population for Super Output Areas (2011) in Northern Ireland. 5 categories: <1200, 1200-1500, 1500-1600, 1600-1800 and >1800. | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2020 |
| Geography | soa11cd_e | Super Output Areas (2011) | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2011 |
| Deprivation | ur_harm_2021 | 2021 UK Composite Rural Urban Classification. 1= Urban, 2= Rural, 3= More Rural. | My Society | 2021 |
| Deprivation | ur_ire_2015 | Settlement classification 2015. 1=Urban, 2= Mixed urban/rural, 3= Rural | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency | 2015 |
imd_scotland
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| Variable Group | Variable | Description | Source | Date range of data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK LLC | avail_from_dt | label not available | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration | None |
| Geography | country | Country within the United Kingdom | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Geography | dz11cd_e | Data Zones (2011) | gov.uk | 2011 |
| Deprivation | imd2019har | Consumer Data Research Centre's Harmonised Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | Geographic Data Service, Smart Data Research UK | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_access | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Access to Services, presented as quintiles. 1= strong access, 5= weak access. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_crime | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Crime, presented as quintiles. 1= high crime rates, 5= low crime rates. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_education | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Education, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest education, 5= highest education. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_employment | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Employment, presented as quintiles. 1= highest unemployment, 5= lowest unemployment. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_health | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Health, presented as quintiles. 1= high health deprivation, 5= low health deprivation. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_housing | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Housing, presented as quintiles. 1= low quality housing, 5= high quality. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | imd2020scot_income | Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Income, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest income, 5= highest income. | gov.scot | 2020 |
| Deprivation | mpe_scot_2021 | Mid-year (30 June) estimates of the usual resident population for Data Zones (2011) in Scotland. 5 categories: <1200, 1200-1500, 1500-1600, 1600-1800 and >1800. | National Records of Scotland | 2020 |
| Deprivation | ur_harm_2021 | 2021 UK Composite Rural Urban Classification. 1= Urban, 2= Rural, 3= More Rural. | My Society | 2021 |
| Deprivation | ur_scot_2020 | Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2020. 1= Large Urban Areas, 2=Other Urban Areas, 3= Accessible Amall Towns, 4= Remote Small Towns, 5= Accessible Rural Areas, 6= Remote Rural Areas. | gov.scot | 2020 |
imd_wales
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| Variable Group | Variable | Description | Source | Date range of data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK LLC | avail_from_dt | label not available | UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration | None |
| Geography | country | Country within the United Kingdom | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | imd2019har | Consumer Data Research Centre's Harmonised Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | Geographic Data Service, Smart Data Research UK | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, presented as quintiles. 1= most deprived, 5= least deprived. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_education | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Education, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest education, 5= highest education. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_employment | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Employment, presented as quintiles. 1= highest unemployment, 5= lowest unemployment. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_environment | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Physical Environment, presented as quintiles. 1= low quality environment, 5= high quality environment. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_health | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Health, presented as quintiles. 1= high health deprivation, 5= low health deprivation. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_housing | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Housing, presented as quintiles. 1= low quality housing, 5= high quality. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_income | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Income, presented as quintiles. 1= lowest income, 5= highest income. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_safety | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Community Safety, presented as quintiles. 1= low community safety, 5= high community safety. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Deprivation | imd2019wal_services | Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Access to Services, presented as quintiles. 1= Strong access, 5= Weak access. | gov.wales | 2019 |
| Geography | lsoa11cd_e | Lower Super Output Area code (2011) | Office for National Statistics | 2011 |
| Deprivation | mpe_wal_2020 | Mid-year (30 June) estimates of the usual resident population for Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales. 5 categories: <1200, 1200-1500, 1500-1600, 1600-1800 and >1800. | Office for National Statistics | 2020 |
| Deprivation | ur_eng_wal_2011 | 2011 Rural Urban Classification for England. 1= Urban major conurbation, 2= Urban minor conurbation, 3= Urban city and town, 4= Rural town and fringe, 5= Rural village and dispersed. | gov.uk | 2011 |
| Deprivation | ur_harm_2021 | 2021 UK Composite Rural Urban Classification. 1= Urban, 2= Rural, 3= More Rural. | My Society | 2021 |
3. Metrics#
TBC
4. Version History#
TBC
5. Documentation#
We are currently building a documentation storage system which will host useful documents related to datasets and data owners. We will surface these documents on Guidebook.
6. Useful Syntax#
Below we will include syntax that may be helpful to other researchers in the UK LLC TRE. For longer scripts, we will include a snippet of the code plus a link to the UK LLC GitHub repository where you can find the full scripts.