The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 (IMD 2000) showed relative levels of social and economic deprivation across all the counties of England at a ward level, the first national study of its kind.
Deprivation across the 8414 wards in the country was assessed, using the following criteria:[1]
Wards ranking in the most deprived 10 per cent in the country were earmarked for additional funding and assistance.
The five most deprived wards in England were found to be:[1]
The five least deprived wards in England were found to be:[1]
IMD2000 was the subject of some controversy, and was succeeded by the Indices of deprivation 2004 which abandoned ward-level data and sampled much smaller geographical areas.