Research and data

Measuring multiple deprivation

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is Scottish Government's standard approach to identifying areas of multiple deprivation. It does this by comparing every neighbourhood in Scotland against each other, in terms of how relatively more or less deprived they are than each other. There are 6,976 of these neighbourhoods, called Data Zones, in Scotland, 143 of them are in the Scottish Borders. The most recent update to the SIMD was released in 2020. 

Having a tool like the SIMD means that we can objectively measure relative inequality in Scottish Borders, and how it fits into the Scottish picture. We can:

• measure how more or less deprived every neighbourhood in the Scottish Borders is compared with every other neighbourhood in Scotland
• say how relatively deprived all the communities in the Scottish Borders are compared with each other
• isolate the 10% or 15% most-deprived neighbourhoods in Scotland and identify how many of them are in the Scottish Borders 
• officially say that Scottish Borders Data Zones which fall into the 15% most-deprived are deprived by Scottish standards, not just by Scottish Borders standards. This is important as the scattered population, and the quality of life in the region, often means that deprivation is hidden away, and doesn't 'show up' using traditional measures

  SIMD Resources

• Press releases and reports about the 2020 and 2016 SIMD releases in the Scottish Borders were produced by our Research and Information Team.
• Scottish Government's official SIMD website has a handy free interactive map which is the easiest way to find your area of interest and its Multiple Deprivation status.
• Ward Profiles that compare population and deprivation information at Electoral Ward level were produced to assist incoming Elected Members.
• The deprivation domains, ranks, quintiles, deciles and vigintiles, for every Data Zone in the Scottish Borders and Scotland, for the 2020 SIMD are available from the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform. 
• The SIMD 2020 Employment Deprivation indicators are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Education Deprivation indicators are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Health Deprivation indicators are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Access To Services indicator, measuring the mean travel time (in minutes) to key services by car or public transport, is available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Access To Services indicator, measuring the percentage of premises that do not have access to superfast broadband, is available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Deprivation Due to Crime indicator, measuring the SIMD crime counts and rates used in the 2020 and 2016 SIMD, is available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The SIMD 2020 Housing Deprivation indicators, measuring overcrowding and no central heating from the 2011 Census, are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform
• The deprivation domains, ranks, quintiles, deciles and vigintiles, for every Data Zone in the Scottish Borders and Scotland, for the historical 2004-2012 SIMD and the 2016 SIMD are available from the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform. 
• The SIMD 2016 Income Deprivation indicators are available for all Scottish Borders and Scottish Datazones on the Scottish Statistics Open Data platform

  If you need any help downloading and analysing the data from the Open Data platform, contact the Research and Information team.

  SIMD and Reducing Inequalities in Scottish Borders

  Multiple deprivation is a complex topic so a multi-agency, multi-faceted approach is needed to reduce the inequalities and the pockets of poverty that lead to Multiple Deprivation.  

  As the SIMD is a relative measure, we need to do at least as much, if not more, to reduce inequalities as public bodies in other Local Authority areas are doing, and we need to do it over a sustained period of time.

  Multiple Deprivation also features in statutory obligations we have, with regard to reducing Child Poverty.

  Find out more about the latest research and data on what we are doing to reduce inequalities in Scottish Borders.