Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2025 indicator data by Lower layer Super Output Area (LSOA) and local authority: income and employment domains

Next update expected:This dataset is not expected to be updated or replaced in the future

Updates

• 6th February 2026:

  Minor formatting changes

• 16th December 2025:

  Local authority indicator estimates have been produced where the original data allows for aggregating to geographies above LSOA level.

• 27th November 2025: Dataset first published.

Main information

• Designation: Accredited official statistics
• Data provider 1: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Data source 1: No specific source from data provider
• Data provider 2: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Data source 2: No specific source from data provider
• Data provider 3: Home Office
• Data source 3: No specific source from data provider
• Data provider 4: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
• Data source 4: Mid-year population estimates

Overview

• Summary of dataset and variables:

  The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in Wales, ranking all 1,917 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) from most (rank 1) to least (rank 1,917) deprived. It combines 54 indicators grouped under 8 domains which have the following weights in the overall index: Income (22%), Employment (20%), Health (15%), Education (14%), Access to Services (10%), Housing (9%), Community Safety (5%), and Physical Environment (5%).

  WIMD produces domain ranks and an overall index to identify areas with the highest concentrations of multiple types of deprivation. Most of the indicator values, some sub-indicator values and some sub-domain ranks are also published on StatsWales. Please see the WIMD guidance report and technical report for more information.

  This table contains data for 4 indicators – the 2 main indicators that form the income and employment domains and 2 additional sub-indicators, which are subsets of the income deprivation indicator. These are income deprivation for children (aged 0 to 15) and income deprivation for older people (aged 60 or over). All indicators are rounded to 1 decimal place.

  Local authority indicator estimates have been produced where the original data allows for aggregating to geographies above LSOA level. Where this is not possible for a given indicator, local authority data entries will display [x] in the Data column.

• Data collection or calculation:

  Income domain

  The purpose of the income domain is to measure the proportion of people experiencing deprivation relating to low income. The domain has a relative weight of 22% in the overall index.

  The domain’s main indicator is made up of several components, a cross-sectional snapshot of people in receipt of income-related benefits and tax credits, and, supported asylum seekers as at end of March 2024.

  The domain uses non-overlapping counts of means-tested claimants, and applies an income threshold to working households. The summed counts are then expressed as a percentage of the estimated total population for the Lower layer Super Output Area (LSOA) based on mid-2022 small area population estimates (SAPE) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 25 November 2024.

  The income domain also has two additional sub-indicators. These are income deprivation for children (aged 0 to 15) and income deprivation for older people (aged 60 or over). Data sources and time period:

  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): income-related benefit claimants, and people on UC as at end March 2024

  • His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC): tax credit recipients as at end March 2024
  • Home Office: Supported Asylum Seekers as at March 2024
  • ONS: mid-2022 small area population estimates

  Employment domain

  The purpose of the employment domain is to measure the proportion of working-age people involuntarily excluded from the labour market. This includes people who may want to work but are unable to do so due to unemployment, sickness or disability, or caring responsibilities. The domain has a relative weight of 20% in the overall index.

  The domain has one indicator made up of several components, a cross-sectional snapshot of working age people in receipt of unemployment-related benefits, averaged over 12 separate monthly timepoints from April 2022 to March 2023, expressed as a percentage of the estimated population aged 18 to 66 in an LSOA based on mid-2022 small area population estimates (SAPE) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 25 November 2024.

  Data sources and time period:

  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), April 2022 to March 2023
  • ONS: mid-2022 small area population estimates
• Statistical quality:

  The WIMD 2025 data have been produced by professional statisticians using the latest data, rigorous analytical methods, and independent validation at every stage. WIMD 2025 builds on previous versions to ensure accuracy and reliability, combining 54 indicators from diverse sources (some but not all are based on official statistics sources) to minimize bias and strengthen robustness. Quality assurance included multiple checks, replication of results, and expert review with domain specialists and local authorities.

  All 4 indicators in this table are based on administrative records and population estimates. They were produced by MHCLG working with DWP and were subject to both their quality assurance as well as that of the Welsh Government officials.

• Rounding applied:

  All indicators in this domain are rounded to 1 decimal place.

• Related reports:
  • Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025
  • Mynegai Amddifadedd Lluosog Cymru 2025
  • English indices of deprivation 2025 - GOV.UK

Published by

• Organisation: Welsh Government
• Contact email: statsinclusion@gov.wales