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The deprivation index measures how deprived an output area is in comparison to all the other output areas in the same country. This means the measure is a ranking where 1 is the most deprived and 32,482 is the least deprived in England, 1,896 is the least deprived in Wales, and 6505 is the least deprived in Scotland. At LSOA level there were separate deprivation indices for income; employment; education, skills and training; health; barriers to housing and services; the living environment; and crime. These are combined to form the "Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)" which is used for the "Quality of Life Indicator".

When the Census was conducted, the Government needed to group households together into units which were small enough to provide meaningful statistics, yet large enough to protect the individuals involved. This unit is known as Lower Super Output Area.

England: Full details of the factors used for the English Index of Deprivation are available from the UK Government Website English indices of deprivation 2015.

Wales: Full details of the factors used for Wales Index of Deprivation are available from the Wales Government Website Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Scotland: Full details of the factors used for Scotland Index of Deprivation are available from the Scottish Government Website Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Income Deprivation Domain

The Income Deprivation Domain measures the proportion of the population experiencing deprivation relating to low income. The definition of low income used includes both those people that are out-of-work, and those that are in work but who have low earnings (and who satisfy the respective means tests).

Employment Deprivation Domain

The Employment Deprivation Domain measures the proportion of the working age population in an area involuntarily excluded from the labour market. This includes people who would like to work but are unable to do so due to unemployment, sickness or disability, or caring responsibilities.

Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Domain

The Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Domain measures the lack of attainment and skills in the local population. The indicators fall into two sub-domains: one relating to children and young people and one relating to adult skills.

Health Deprivation and Disability Domain

The Health Deprivation and Disability Domain measures the risk of premature death and the impairment of quality of life through poor physical or mental health. The domain measures morbidity, disability and premature mortality but not aspects of behaviour or environment that may be predictive of future health deprivation.

Crime Domain

The Crime Domain measures the risk of personal and material victimisation at local level.

Barriers to Housing and Services Domain

The Barriers to Housing and Services Domain measures the physical and financial accessibility of housing and local services. The indicators fall into two sub-domains: ‘geographical barriers’, which relate to the physical proximity of local services, and ‘wider barriers’ which includes issues relating to access to housing such as affordability and homelessness.

Living Environment Deprivation Domain

The Living Environment Deprivation Domain measures the quality of the local environment. The indicators fall into two sub-domains. The ‘indoors’ living environment measures the quality of housing; while the ‘outdoors’ living environment contains measures of air quality and road traffic accidents.