The latest publication of the Government’s deprivation index has highlighted significant socio-economic disparities in Bristol, revealing persistent inequalities across the city. For the first time in six years, detailed rankings show that while some areas thrive, others remain severely deprived, with little progress since the last figures were released in 2019.
According to the Government’s “English Indices of Deprivation 2025,” Bristol contains both some of the wealthiest neighborhoods and some of the most impoverished areas in England. For instance, the affluent neighborhood of Henleaze ranks in the top 0.3 percent of the most prosperous areas nationally, situated less than a mile from Southmead, which falls within the lowest three percent of deprived areas in the country.
The deprivation index assesses seven critical aspects of life, including income and employment, health, education, crime, and housing conditions. Each neighborhood, consisting of approximately 1,500 residents, has been meticulously categorized into one of the **33,755** neighborhoods across England. In Bristol, this has resulted in the division of the city into **268** smaller neighborhoods, revealing a stark contrast in living standards.
The report indicates that six of the eight most deprived neighborhoods in Bristol are located in **Hartcliffe**, with the remaining two situated in **Withywood** and **Inns Court**. The most deprived area, known as “Bristol 053E,” lies in Hartcliffe, ranking as the **211th** most deprived neighborhood in the entire country, placing it in the bottom **0.6 percent** of all neighborhoods in England.
Further analysis shows that neighboring areas, including parts around **Morrisons** in Hartcliffe and **Crosscombe Drive**, also fall within the top one percent of the most deprived regions. Other neighborhoods like **Knowle West**, **Barton Hill**, and **Easton** similarly rank among the bottom five percent of deprived areas.
Interestingly, the most deprived neighborhoods are not confined to Bristol alone. The **Bournville Estate** in **Weston-super-Mare** features two areas that rank in the lowest one percent nationally, with one of these neighborhoods being the **86th** most deprived in England.
Conversely, many parts of Bristol are among the top one or two percent of least deprived neighborhoods. The least deprived area, located around **West Broadway** in Henleaze, has consistently scored low across various metrics, including income, crime, employment, and health. There are only **103** other neighborhoods in England that surpass it in terms of socio-economic well-being. This area, known as “Bristol 011B,” is situated less than three-quarters of a mile from Southmead, highlighting the close proximity of extreme wealth and poverty.
The gap between affluent and deprived areas in Bristol underscores a broader challenge facing urban communities across the country. As local authorities grapple with these disparities, the impact on residents’ quality of life and opportunities remains a pressing concern. The findings from the deprivation index serve as a crucial reminder of the work still needed to address inequality within the city’s socio-economic landscape.
