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Deprivation Topic Data

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Patterns of deprivation vary across Dorset. Areas identified as having higher levels of deprivation are mainly located in urban centres such as Weymouth and Portland, while some rural communities experience deprivation related to housing and access to essential services. The English Indices of Deprivation divide the Dorset Council area into 223 geographic units.

Data from the Indices should not be compared over time. Because they are based on relative rankings, a rise or fall in an area’s position does not necessarily indicate improvement or decline; it may instead reflect changes in how other areas are performing.

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Social deprivation

  • There are 9 areas (out of a total of 223) in Dorset within the top 20% most deprived nationally for multiple deprivation.1.
  • 7 of these are within Weymouth and Portland, one is in Bridport and one in Ferndown.
  • The gap in life expectancy between the most deprived and least deprived areas of Dorset is 4.9 years for men and 3.2 years for women2.
  • As indicators of social mobility, children receiving Free School Meals in Dorset achieve below regional and national average education standards, and South Dorset ranks third highest in the region for 25-34-year-olds in unskilled employment.4.
  • 47% of Dorset's population live in rural areas3. Barriers to housing and essential services are significant in Dorset reflecting rurality and distance from services. 88 Dorset neighbourhoods fall in the 20% most deprived nationally for this measure: 30 in West Dorset, 20 in North Dorset, 18 in East Dorset, 10 in Purbeck and 10 in Weymouth & Portland.1.
9 areas in Dorset suffer high deprivation

Economic deprivation

  • 7 neighbourhoods in Dorset fall into the top 20% nationally for income deprivation - 5 of these are in Weymouth and Portland1.
  • In Dorset, about 17,200 people aged 16-64, plus 4,800 children live in 14,800 workless households. 13.5% of Dorset households were workless, very similar to the national figure6.
  • Average house prices are 10 times higher than average earnings in Dorset7.
  • Weekly earnings for people living in Dorset are 96% of national earnings5.
Affordability gap infographic

Health inequalities

  • Health inequalities include differences in health status (such as life expectancy and prevalence of conditions), access to and experience of care, patient satisfaction, health-related behaviours, and wider determinants like housing quality.
  • Nine areas in Dorset are within the top 20% most deprived for Health Deprivation in the latest Indices of Deprivation 2025, seven are in Weymouth and Portland, one in Dorchester and one in Bridport.
  • In the last 10 years, female life expectancy at birth has fallen from 85.0 years to 84.8 years, while male life expectancy has stayed the same at 80.8 years.
  • The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to increased mortality in 2020 and 2021, and the impact of this is seen in the regional and local area life expectancy estimates8

Headline Figures

9

Areas of Dorset in the most deprived nationally*

47%

Dorset population living in rural areas

88

Areas in the most deprived nationally for access to housing and services

19

Areas in the most deprived nationally for education

7

Areas in the most deprived nationally for income

14,800

Workless households

13.5%

Live in workless households

10 times higher

Average house prices compared to average earnings

Headline Figures

9

Areas of Dorset in the most deprived nationally*

47%

Dorset population living in rural areas

88

Areas in the most deprived nationally for access to housing and services

19

Areas in the most deprived nationally for education

7

Areas in the most deprived nationally for income

14,800

Workless households

13.5%

Live in workless households

10 times higher

Average house prices compared to average earnings

Sources

22 Reports

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21 Related Datasets

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  • Ratio of House Prices to Earnings 2022

    Published: 30 March 2023

    Lower quartile affordability ratio and median earnings affordability ratio.

    Downloads: 269

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  • 2022 Earnings

    Published: 29 March 2023

    Median Earnings data on a workplace and residence basis

    Downloads: 275

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  • Data for EqIAs (diversity data)

    Published: 14 November 2020

    Various diversity data for Dorset with national comparators. For assistance in completing Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs).

    Downloads: 1232

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  • 2018 Parish Level Mid Year Population Estimates

    Published: 23 March 2020

    2018 best fit Output Area population to parish geography for all persons by five year age groups.

    Downloads: 1356

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019- National and Dorset Council Ranks

    Published: 03 January 2020

    The English Indices of Deprivation helps identify and prioritise areas to assist the government and other agencies both national and local in narrowing the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

    Downloads: 2689

    Download (Excel)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset East Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset East SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1726

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset West Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset West SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2287

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Mid Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Mid Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1884

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - South East Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across South East Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2318

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset North Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset North SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2059

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset South Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset South SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1596

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset Council Maps

    Published: 25 November 2019

    The combined map base pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation (IMD) map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture for Dorset. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1326

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  • Weymouth & Portland District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Weymouth & Portland. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2223

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  • West Dorset District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across West Dorset. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2187

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  • Purbeck District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Purbeck. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1941

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  • North Dorset District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across North Dorset. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2200

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  • East Dorset District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across East Dorset. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1937

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  • Christchurch District Maps - Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 21 September 2016

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Christchurch. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1755

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  • ID 2015 Combined Map Base

    Published: 01 December 2015

    The combined Map base pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture for Dorset. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2016

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  • ID 2015 Report

    Published: 01 December 2015

    A summary report of the 2015 English Indices of Deprivation for Dorset County Council

    Downloads: 4390

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  • English Indices of Deprivation 2015

    Published: 30 September 2015

    This English Indices of Deprivation helps identify and prioritise areas to assist the government and other agencies both national and local in narrowing the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

    Downloads: 2882

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