Trajectories of Multiple Deprivation in England, 2004–2025: An Analysis Using the English Indices of Deprivation

The English Indices of Deprivation (IoDs) offer insights into the contemporary geographies of deprivation in England. The most recent (2025) IoD release is the first since COVID-19 and the first in the context of the current cost of living crisis. The IoD provides neighbourhood-level measures of multiple forms of deprivation and is an invaluable tool for local authority districts (LAs), NGOs, and others concerned with understanding and tackling spatial inequalities. This paper introduces the IoD 2025 and considers how deprivation varies at a neighbourhood level, both between and within regions and LAs. Next, deprivation histories are explored for small areas across England. It is demonstrated that intense deprivation persists in some neighbourhoods and a case is made that such areas should be the subject of targeted interventions. Linking the IoD releases for 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019 and 2025, the paper shows how deprivation trajectories differ across England. The paper concludes by outlining several recommendations for the use of the IoD 2025 in shaping policy interventions and by arguing that considering deprivation histories is crucial for the design and implementation of schemes aimed at reducing spatial inequalities.