Inequalities

Herefordshire is one of England's most rural counties and rural areas pose different types of challenges for the people who live there compared to urban areas. Nationally, more emphasis is often given to urban inequalities, not least as across England the majority of the population live in urban areas, but also our common measure of deprivation (the IMD) is known to be skewed towards identifying deprivation in an urban context.  Rural deprivation looks very different.  In rural areas, the most common types of deprivation relate to housing and physical access to services.  Furthermore, deprivation can be a hidden feature of rural communities as it is often dispersed amongst more affluent households. Within even the most affluent areas, there can be pockets of real hardship, ill health and inequality.  These themes are explored in detail in the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, which can be viewed via 'useful links'.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a statistical release summarising of the main findings from the 2025 IMD, which can be accessed via the link below:

English indices of deprivation 2025: statistical release

In addition, ONS has produced an interactive tool enabling users to view the 2025 statistics on deprivation in their local area including the 2025 IMD data, which can be accessed via the link below:

Deprivation in England

If you require any further information or assistance regarding the latest IMD data, please email researchteam@herefordshire.gov.uk.

Reducing inequalities means giving everyone the same opportunities to lead a healthy and fulfilling life, no matter where they live or who they are.  Currently, in England, people living in the least deprived areas of the country live around 20 years longer in good health than people in the most deprived areas.  Inequalities exist across a range of dimensions, such as socio-economic deprivation and personal characteristics like age and sex.  

Herefordshire has, on average, relatively low levels of overall, multiple deprivation and similar proportions of children living in relatively income deprived households as nationally.  In 2024/25, 19.8% of children under 16 in Herefordshire were living in relative low-income families (before housing costs); the same proportion to England but lower than the West Midlands (27.1%). However, this proportion has increased from 18.0% in 2023/24.  In 2024/25, 7,366 Herefordshire children were living in relative low-income families (before housing costs) an increase from 6,651 in 2023/24. 

In 2024-25 9,431 children in Herefordshire were living in relative low-income households after housing costs, up from 8,731 in 2023-24. The wards with the highest numbers were Hinton & Hunderton (542), Newton Farm (525) and Red Hill (357).