Conditions of childhood

Published: 18 December 2025
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Data on the conditions of childhood in UK local authorities over time – measured by the earnings, qualifications and occupation levels of parents. This index shows whether the conditions children grow up in are good for promoting social mobility.

Visualisation

Index of conditions of childhood, by local authority (UK)

205 local authority areas in the UK are put into 7 groups – from ‘most favourable’ to ‘least favourable’ conditions – based on their ‘index of conditions of childhood’ composite scores. The categories are not equally sized – the middle category is larger because most local authorities are very near the average. Areas with the highest scores have the most favourable childhood conditions.

Least
Favourable
Unfavourable
Middle
Group
Favourable
Most
Favourable
Least
Favourable
Unfavourable
Lower
Middling
Middling
Upper
Middling
Favourable
Most
Favourable

Data

Index of conditions of childhood, by local authority (UK)
Region 2018 to 2024 2012 to 2017 2006 to 2011 2000 to 2005
Index of 'conditions of childhood' ('Z-scores') Group Index of 'conditions of childhood' ('Z-scores') Group Index of 'conditions of childhood' ('Z-scores') Group Index of 'conditions of childhood' ('Z-scores') Group
Aberdeen City 0.21 Middling 0.52 Upper Middling 0.47 Middling 0.74 Upper Middling
Aberdeenshire 1.02 Favourable -0.11 Middling 0.49 Middling 0.71 Upper Middling
Angus -0.23 Middling -0.08 Middling 0.04 Middling -0.18 Middling
Argyll and Bute Islands -0.91 Lower Middling 0.21 Middling 0.23 Middling -0.13 Middling
Barking and Dagenham -0.85 Lower Middling -1.08 Unfavourable -1.06 Unfavourable -1.13 Unfavourable
Barnet 1.37 Favourable 1.72 Most Favourable 1.83 Most Favourable 1.79 Most Favourable
Barnsley -1.25 Unfavourable -1.24 Unfavourable -1.10 Unfavourable -1.36 Unfavourable
Bath and North East Somerset 1.44 Favourable 1.17 Favourable 1.40 Favourable 1.60 Most Favourable
Bedford 0.50 Middling 1.05 Favourable 0.57 Upper Middling 0.59 Upper Middling
Bexley 0.53 Upper Middling 0.09 Middling 0.36 Middling 0.17 Middling
Birmingham -0.82 Lower Middling -1.13 Unfavourable -1.16 Unfavourable -0.82 Lower Middling
Blackburn with Darwen -2.14 Least Favourable -1.06 Unfavourable -1.16 Unfavourable -1.17 Unfavourable
Blackpool -1.00 Unfavourable -1.57 Least Favourable -1.36 Unfavourable -0.85 Lower Middling
Blaenau Gwent -1.23 Unfavourable -1.59 Least Favourable -1.79 Least Favourable -1.96 Least Favourable
Bolton -0.86 Lower Middling -0.56 Lower Middling -0.55 Lower Middling 0.13 Middling
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 0.29 Middling 0.21 Middling -0.15 Middling -0.14 Middling
Bracknell Forest 0.77 Upper Middling 0.54 Upper Middling 0.95 Upper Middling 1.37 Favourable
Bradford -1.06 Unfavourable -1.03 Unfavourable -0.93 Lower Middling -0.78 Lower Middling
Brent -0.09 Middling 0.28 Middling -0.35 Middling 0.04 Middling
Bridgend -0.46 Middling -0.23 Middling -0.46 Middling -0.86 Lower Middling
Brighton and Hove 1.24 Favourable 1.41 Favourable 1.37 Favourable 1.52 Most Favourable
Bristol, City of 0.98 Upper Middling 0.52 Upper Middling 0.67 Upper Middling 0.31 Middling
Bromley 1.60 Most Favourable 1.77 Most Favourable 1.63 Most Favourable 1.48 Favourable
Buckinghamshire 1.48 Favourable 1.67 Most Favourable 2.00 Most Favourable 2.00 Most Favourable
Bury 0.27 Middling 0.40 Middling 0.31 Middling 0.04 Middling
Caerphilly -0.84 Lower Middling -0.95 Lower Middling -0.96 Lower Middling -1.06 Unfavourable
Calderdale -0.28 Middling -0.26 Middling 0.06 Middling -0.19 Middling
Cambridgeshire CC 0.83 Upper Middling 0.92 Upper Middling 1.29 Favourable 1.12 Favourable
Camden and City of London 2.14 Most Favourable 2.18 Most Favourable 2.48 Most Favourable 1.45 Favourable
Cardiff 0.89 Upper Middling 0.63 Upper Middling 0.64 Upper Middling 0.60 Upper Middling
Carmarthenshire -0.41 Middling -0.70 Lower Middling -0.02 Middling -0.28 Middling
Central Bedfordshire 0.82 Upper Middling 0.51 Upper Middling 0.69 Upper Middling 0.72 Upper Middling
Ceredigion -0.12 Middling -0.57 Lower Middling -0.57 Lower Middling -0.39 Middling
Cheshire East 0.61 Upper Middling 1.23 Favourable 1.26 Favourable 1.13 Favourable
Cheshire West and Chester 1.61 Most Favourable 0.70 Upper Middling 0.57 Upper Middling 0.59 Upper Middling
City of Edinburgh 1.52 Most Favourable 1.72 Most Favourable 1.55 Most Favourable 1.69 Most Favourable
Clackmannanshire -0.81 Lower Middling -0.67 Lower Middling -0.44 Middling -0.13 Middling
Conwy -1.03 Unfavourable -0.86 Lower Middling -0.40 Middling -0.29 Middling
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly -0.64 Lower Middling -0.45 Middling -0.48 Middling -0.57 Lower Middling
Coventry -0.57 Lower Middling -0.71 Lower Middling -0.70 Lower Middling -0.28 Middling
Croydon 0.70 Upper Middling 0.63 Upper Middling 0.33 Middling 0.62 Upper Middling
Cumbria -0.67 Lower Middling -0.59 Lower Middling -0.46 Middling -0.63 Lower Middling
Darlington -0.13 Middling -0.20 Middling -0.49 Middling -0.64 Lower Middling
Denbighshire -1.19 Unfavourable -0.61 Lower Middling -0.07 Middling -0.30 Middling
Derby -0.27 Middling -0.68 Lower Middling -0.39 Middling -0.56 Lower Middling
Derbyshire -0.16 Middling -0.16 Middling -0.10 Middling -0.49 Middling
Devon CC 0.16 Middling 0.39 Middling 0.11 Middling -0.01 Middling
Doncaster -1.32 Unfavourable -1.18 Unfavourable -1.48 Unfavourable -1.37 Unfavourable
Dorset -0.15 Middling 0.33 Middling 0.22 Middling 0.25 Middling
Dudley -0.49 Middling -0.35 Middling -0.34 Middling -0.50 Lower Middling
Dumfries and Galloway -0.67 Lower Middling -0.63 Lower Middling -0.69 Lower Middling -0.51 Lower Middling
Dundee City -0.30 Middling -0.59 Lower Middling -1.06 Unfavourable -0.62 Lower Middling
Durham -1.04 Unfavourable -0.61 Lower Middling -0.78 Lower Middling -0.92 Lower Middling
Ealing 1.58 Most Favourable 0.52 Upper Middling 0.98 Upper Middling 1.18 Favourable
East Ayrshire -0.54 Lower Middling -1.34 Unfavourable -1.21 Unfavourable -1.14 Unfavourable
East Dunbartonshire 1.69 Most Favourable 2.10 Most Favourable 1.69 Most Favourable 1.66 Most Favourable
East Lothian 0.76 Upper Middling 0.27 Middling 0.27 Middling 0.16 Middling
East Renfrewshire 1.62 Most Favourable 1.22 Favourable 1.53 Most Favourable 2.29 Most Favourable
East Riding of Yorkshire -0.17 Middling -0.01 Middling 0.44 Middling 0.19 Middling
East Sussex CC 0.02 Middling -0.01 Middling 0.34 Middling 0.54 Upper Middling
Enfield -0.04 Middling -0.10 Middling 0.10 Middling 0.43 Middling
Essex 0.32 Middling 0.23 Middling 0.42 Middling 0.42 Middling
Falkirk -0.35 Middling -0.32 Middling 0.05 Middling -0.32 Middling
Fife -0.18 Middling -0.29 Middling 0.09 Middling -0.49 Middling
Flintshire -0.58 Lower Middling -0.80 Lower Middling -0.00 Middling -0.35 Middling
Gateshead -0.70 Lower Middling -0.75 Lower Middling -1.02 Unfavourable -0.81 Lower Middling
Glasgow City -0.83 Lower Middling -0.42 Middling -0.68 Lower Middling -0.82 Lower Middling
Gloucestershire CC 0.40 Middling 0.43 Middling 0.96 Upper Middling 0.61 Upper Middling
Greenwich 0.62 Upper Middling 0.13 Middling 0.60 Upper Middling 0.22 Middling
Gwynedd -0.37 Middling -0.92 Lower Middling -0.67 Lower Middling -0.49 Middling
Hackney 0.56 Upper Middling -0.20 Middling 0.22 Middling -0.68 Lower Middling
Halton -0.70 Lower Middling -0.82 Lower Middling -1.23 Unfavourable -0.80 Lower Middling
Hammersmith and Fulham 2.17 Most Favourable 1.96 Most Favourable 2.25 Most Favourable 1.62 Most Favourable
Hampshire 0.90 Upper Middling 0.89 Upper Middling 0.94 Upper Middling 0.82 Upper Middling
Haringey 0.89 Upper Middling 0.55 Upper Middling 0.73 Upper Middling 0.40 Middling
Harrow 1.24 Favourable 0.66 Upper Middling 0.89 Upper Middling 1.61 Most Favourable
Hartlepool -1.26 Unfavourable -1.33 Unfavourable -0.75 Lower Middling -1.19 Unfavourable
Havering 0.66 Upper Middling 0.67 Upper Middling -0.04 Middling 0.24 Middling
Herefordshire, County of -0.32 Middling -0.42 Middling -0.27 Middling -0.25 Middling
Hertfordshire CC 1.42 Favourable 1.48 Favourable 1.71 Most Favourable 1.58 Most Favourable
Highland 0.03 Middling -0.39 Middling 0.01 Middling -0.42 Middling
Hillingdon 0.04 Middling 0.21 Middling 0.10 Middling 0.34 Middling
Hounslow 0.53 Upper Middling 0.63 Upper Middling 0.45 Middling 0.55 Upper Middling
Inverclyde -0.54 Lower Middling -0.68 Lower Middling -0.88 Lower Middling -0.46 Middling
Isle of Anglesey -0.14 Middling -0.42 Middling -1.01 Unfavourable -0.79 Lower Middling
Isle of Wight -0.84 Lower Middling 0.02 Middling -0.92 Lower Middling -0.61 Lower Middling
Islington 1.60 Most Favourable 0.46 Middling 1.49 Favourable 0.62 Upper Middling
Kensington and Chelsea 2.05 Most Favourable 1.69 Most Favourable 2.39 Most Favourable 2.03 Most Favourable
Kent 0.43 Middling 0.20 Middling 0.30 Middling 0.21 Middling
Kingston upon Hull, City of -1.93 Least Favourable -2.03 Least Favourable -1.91 Least Favourable -1.76 Least Favourable
Kingston upon Thames 1.94 Most Favourable 1.93 Most Favourable 2.30 Most Favourable 2.29 Most Favourable
Kirklees -0.57 Lower Middling -0.46 Middling -0.32 Middling -0.40 Middling
Knowsley -0.89 Lower Middling -1.17 Unfavourable -1.47 Unfavourable -1.34 Unfavourable
Lambeth 1.77 Most Favourable 0.86 Upper Middling 0.72 Upper Middling 0.40 Middling
Lancashire -0.41 Middling -0.31 Middling -0.18 Middling -0.08 Middling
Leeds 0.39 Middling 0.01 Middling 0.04 Middling 0.10 Middling
Leicester -1.80 Least Favourable -1.74 Least Favourable -1.49 Unfavourable -1.37 Unfavourable
Leicestershire CC 0.33 Middling 0.29 Middling 0.47 Middling 0.42 Middling
Lewisham 1.35 Favourable 1.29 Favourable 0.77 Upper Middling 0.58 Upper Middling
Lincolnshire CC -0.83 Lower Middling -0.64 Lower Middling -0.33 Middling -0.63 Lower Middling
Liverpool 0.11 Middling -0.48 Middling -0.96 Lower Middling -0.90 Lower Middling
Luton -1.05 Unfavourable -1.11 Unfavourable -1.16 Unfavourable -0.66 Lower Middling
Manchester -0.60 Lower Middling -0.71 Lower Middling -1.05 Unfavourable -1.07 Unfavourable
Medway -0.19 Middling -0.80 Lower Middling -0.75 Lower Middling -0.73 Lower Middling
Merthyr Tydfil -1.15 Unfavourable -1.18 Unfavourable -1.54 Least Favourable -1.20 Unfavourable
Merton 1.27 Favourable 2.01 Most Favourable 1.20 Favourable 1.24 Favourable
Middlesbrough -1.75 Least Favourable -1.27 Unfavourable -1.14 Unfavourable -1.62 Least Favourable
Midlothian 0.73 Upper Middling -0.01 Middling 0.01 Middling 0.01 Middling
Milton Keynes 0.69 Upper Middling 0.89 Upper Middling 0.40 Middling 0.52 Upper Middling
Monmouthshire 0.42 Middling 0.86 Upper Middling 0.72 Upper Middling 1.39 Favourable
Moray -0.91 Lower Middling -0.33 Middling -0.53 Lower Middling 0.09 Middling
Na h-Eileanan Siar 0.00 Middling 0.32 Middling -0.08 Middling -0.97 Lower Middling
Neath Port Talbot -0.33 Middling -0.42 Middling -1.27 Unfavourable -1.11 Unfavourable
Newcastle upon Tyne -0.34 Middling -0.42 Middling -0.51 Lower Middling -0.09 Middling
Newham -1.03 Unfavourable -1.27 Unfavourable -1.62 Least Favourable -1.62 Least Favourable
Newport -0.83 Lower Middling -0.57 Lower Middling -0.18 Middling -0.23 Middling
North Ayrshire mainland -1.45 Unfavourable -1.05 Unfavourable -1.31 Unfavourable -0.71 Lower Middling
North East Lincolnshire -1.87 Least Favourable -1.73 Least Favourable -1.31 Unfavourable -1.43 Unfavourable
North Lanarkshire -1.05 Unfavourable -0.56 Lower Middling -0.57 Lower Middling -0.82 Lower Middling
North Lincolnshire -1.43 Unfavourable -1.04 Unfavourable -1.10 Unfavourable -1.35 Unfavourable
North Northamptonshire -0.87 Lower Middling -0.53 Lower Middling -0.37 Middling -0.35 Middling
North Somerset 0.57 Upper Middling 0.88 Upper Middling 0.76 Upper Middling 0.96 Upper Middling
North Tyneside -0.17 Middling -0.10 Middling -0.11 Middling 0.10 Middling
North Yorkshire CC 0.24 Middling 0.38 Middling 0.39 Middling 0.59 Upper Middling
Northern Ireland -0.44 Middling -0.60 Lower Middling -0.49 Middling -0.54 Lower Middling
Northumberland -0.55 Lower Middling -0.20 Middling 0.25 Middling -0.23 Middling
Norwich and Norfolk -0.80 Lower Middling -0.50 Middling -0.30 Middling -0.51 Lower Middling
Nottingham -0.94 Lower Middling -0.96 Lower Middling -1.05 Unfavourable -1.32 Unfavourable
Nottinghamshire 0.22 Middling -0.02 Middling 0.08 Middling -0.07 Middling
Oldham -1.45 Unfavourable -1.40 Unfavourable -1.04 Unfavourable -1.02 Unfavourable
Orkney Islands -0.19 Middling -0.36 Middling -0.51 Lower Middling -0.11 Middling
Oxfordshire CC 1.60 Most Favourable 1.60 Most Favourable 1.35 Favourable 1.39 Favourable
Pembrokeshire -1.08 Unfavourable -0.70 Lower Middling -1.21 Unfavourable -0.99 Lower Middling
Perth and Kinross 0.43 Middling 0.53 Upper Middling 0.22 Middling 0.97 Upper Middling
Peterborough -0.79 Lower Middling -0.75 Lower Middling -0.80 Lower Middling -0.41 Middling
Plymouth -0.86 Lower Middling -0.59 Lower Middling -0.83 Lower Middling -0.73 Lower Middling
Portsmouth -0.23 Middling -0.29 Middling -0.34 Middling 0.01 Middling
Powys -0.76 Lower Middling -0.74 Lower Middling -0.30 Middling 0.09 Middling
Reading 1.03 Favourable 1.20 Favourable 0.71 Upper Middling 0.78 Upper Middling
Redbridge 0.56 Upper Middling 1.02 Favourable 0.92 Upper Middling 0.93 Upper Middling
Redcar and Cleveland -1.46 Unfavourable -1.13 Unfavourable -1.13 Unfavourable -1.25 Unfavourable
Renfrewshire 0.06 Middling -0.01 Middling -0.06 Middling 0.25 Middling
Rhondda Cynon Taf -1.17 Unfavourable -0.63 Lower Middling -0.99 Lower Middling -0.80 Lower Middling
Richmond upon Thames 2.56 Most Favourable 3.48 Most Favourable 3.85 Most Favourable 4.26 Most Favourable
Rochdale -1.55 Least Favourable -1.25 Unfavourable -0.67 Lower Middling -0.82 Lower Middling
Rotherham -0.88 Lower Middling -1.59 Least Favourable -1.20 Unfavourable -0.85 Lower Middling
Rutland 0.64 Upper Middling 1.13 Favourable 0.79 Upper Middling 1.62 Most Favourable
Salford -0.48 Middling -0.75 Lower Middling -0.66 Lower Middling -0.60 Lower Middling
Sandwell -1.65 Least Favourable -2.01 Least Favourable -1.49 Unfavourable -1.65 Least Favourable
Scottish Borders -0.30 Middling -0.75 Lower Middling 0.02 Middling -0.26 Middling
Sefton 0.06 Middling -0.26 Middling -0.17 Middling -0.01 Middling
Sheffield 0.23 Middling -0.20 Middling -0.33 Middling 0.14 Middling
Shetland Islands -0.62 Lower Middling 1.14 Favourable 0.60 Upper Middling 0.12 Middling
Shropshire 0.01 Middling -0.02 Middling 0.14 Middling 0.23 Middling
Slough -0.17 Middling -0.54 Lower Middling -0.29 Middling -0.05 Middling
Solihull 1.23 Favourable 0.91 Upper Middling 1.03 Favourable 1.35 Favourable
Somerset CC -0.27 Middling -0.00 Middling -0.16 Middling -0.20 Middling
South Ayrshire -0.04 Middling 0.16 Middling 0.04 Middling -0.17 Middling
South Gloucestershire 0.70 Upper Middling 0.34 Middling 0.55 Upper Middling 0.59 Upper Middling
South Lanarkshire -0.36 Middling -0.14 Middling 0.18 Middling -0.19 Middling
South Tyneside -0.58 Lower Middling -0.90 Lower Middling -0.87 Lower Middling -1.08 Unfavourable
Southampton -0.43 Middling -0.33 Middling -0.17 Middling -0.39 Middling
Southend-on-Sea -0.20 Middling 0.10 Middling 0.03 Middling -0.16 Middling
Southwark 1.44 Favourable 0.83 Upper Middling 0.37 Middling 0.27 Middling
St Helens -0.61 Lower Middling -0.74 Lower Middling -1.21 Unfavourable -0.71 Lower Middling
Staffordshire CC 0.34 Middling 0.01 Middling 0.16 Middling -0.04 Middling
Stirling 0.93 Upper Middling 1.41 Favourable 1.60 Most Favourable 1.35 Favourable
Stockport 1.13 Favourable 1.09 Favourable 1.06 Favourable 0.33 Middling
Stockton-on-Tees -0.55 Lower Middling -0.40 Middling -0.83 Lower Middling -0.67 Lower Middling
Stoke-on-Trent -1.21 Unfavourable -1.60 Least Favourable -1.59 Least Favourable -1.71 Least Favourable
Suffolk CC -0.65 Lower Middling -0.28 Middling -0.13 Middling 0.01 Middling
Sunderland -1.20 Unfavourable -1.25 Unfavourable -1.10 Unfavourable -1.25 Unfavourable
Surrey 2.08 Most Favourable 1.92 Most Favourable 2.19 Most Favourable 2.21 Most Favourable
Sutton 1.70 Most Favourable 1.33 Favourable 0.85 Upper Middling 0.94 Upper Middling
Swansea -0.23 Middling -0.58 Lower Middling -0.05 Middling -0.29 Middling
Swindon -0.03 Middling 0.23 Middling 0.02 Middling 0.19 Middling
Tameside -0.53 Lower Middling -0.79 Lower Middling -0.94 Lower Middling -0.72 Lower Middling
Telford and Wrekin -0.99 Lower Middling -0.46 Middling -0.78 Lower Middling -0.66 Lower Middling
Thurrock -0.00 Middling -0.62 Lower Middling -0.55 Lower Middling -0.93 Lower Middling
Torbay -0.75 Lower Middling -0.73 Lower Middling -0.67 Lower Middling -1.13 Unfavourable
Torfaen -0.67 Lower Middling -1.41 Unfavourable -1.25 Unfavourable -0.69 Lower Middling
Tower Hamlets -0.68 Lower Middling -1.07 Unfavourable -1.52 Least Favourable -1.89 Least Favourable
Trafford 1.47 Favourable 1.13 Favourable 1.42 Favourable 0.62 Upper Middling
Vale of Glamorgan 0.30 Middling 1.40 Favourable 0.59 Upper Middling 0.57 Upper Middling
Wakefield -0.94 Lower Middling -1.02 Unfavourable -1.23 Unfavourable -0.91 Lower Middling
Walsall -1.38 Unfavourable -1.17 Unfavourable -1.26 Unfavourable -1.13 Unfavourable
Waltham Forest 0.65 Upper Middling -0.07 Middling -0.35 Middling -0.12 Middling
Wandsworth 2.64 Most Favourable 3.10 Most Favourable 2.44 Most Favourable 2.75 Most Favourable
Warrington 0.31 Middling 0.82 Upper Middling 0.90 Upper Middling 0.33 Middling
Warwickshire CC 0.75 Upper Middling 0.71 Upper Middling 0.55 Upper Middling 0.42 Middling
West Berkshire 1.59 Most Favourable 1.69 Most Favourable 1.13 Favourable 1.53 Most Favourable
West Dunbartonshire -1.19 Unfavourable -0.39 Middling -0.63 Lower Middling -0.79 Lower Middling
West Lothian -0.15 Middling 0.11 Middling 0.36 Middling 0.09 Middling
West Northamptonshire 0.29 Middling 0.10 Middling 0.62 Upper Middling 0.34 Middling
West Sussex 0.84 Upper Middling 0.69 Upper Middling 0.69 Upper Middling 0.71 Upper Middling
Westminster 1.25 Favourable 1.89 Most Favourable 1.05 Favourable 0.71 Upper Middling
Wigan -0.33 Middling -0.66 Lower Middling -0.45 Middling -0.65 Lower Middling
Wiltshire 0.59 Upper Middling 0.90 Upper Middling 0.64 Upper Middling 0.74 Upper Middling
Windsor and Maidenhead 2.19 Most Favourable 2.31 Most Favourable 1.95 Most Favourable 2.71 Most Favourable
Wirral 0.22 Middling -0.12 Middling 0.01 Middling 0.04 Middling
Wokingham 2.38 Most Favourable 2.50 Most Favourable 2.45 Most Favourable 2.35 Most Favourable
Wolverhampton -1.53 Least Favourable -0.81 Lower Middling -1.05 Unfavourable -1.23 Unfavourable
Worcestershire CC -0.05 Middling 0.66 Upper Middling 0.31 Middling 0.30 Middling
Wrexham -0.82 Lower Middling -0.58 Lower Middling -1.11 Unfavourable -0.77 Lower Middling
York 0.95 Upper Middling 0.79 Upper Middling 0.86 Upper Middling 0.56 Upper Middling
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    Summary main findings

    Data for 2018 to 2024 combined shows that children brought up in the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, and Kingston upon Thames – as well as in Wokingham, Windsor, and Maidenhead (all in Berkshire) – have the ‘most favourable’ conditions of childhood. This means their parents are more likely to have higher earnings, higher levels of education, and higher occupation levels.

    Outside London and the home counties, East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire in Scotland also had more favourable conditions of childhood.

    There were less favourable conditions of childhood in the North East of England, coastal cities, industrial and former mining areas, such as Blackburn with Darwen, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and Middlesbrough.

    The conditions of childhood scores have remained stable over time for UK local authorities, with any movement being gradual. Areas of long-term disadvantage often include former mining and manufacturing areas. Global cities like London and Edinburgh, with their service economies, have consistently performed well.

    About the data

    Data source(s)

    Labour Force Survey (LFS), Office for National Statistics

    Time period

    • 2000 to 2005 combined
    • 2006 to 2011 combined
    • 2012 to 2017 combined
    • 2018 to 2024 combined

    Geographic area

    UK

    What the data measures

    This page combines data from the following drivers into a single 'composite' score:

    Things you need to know

    This composite index previously included a measure of childhood poverty. This data is not currently available, so it has been replaced by a measure of parental income.

    Areas are based on where respondents lived when they were surveyed, not where they grew up.

    The unit used for this index is the 'Z-score'. This is a type of statistical measurement which can be used to tell us how likely it is that a region is different to the UK average.

    The values shown are not percentages, and the difference between regions cannot be compared in percentage terms.

    The Z-scores are used to put regions into one of 7 groups, according to a set of thresholds for each group. See our technical annex for more information on how each area was scored.

    Type of data

    Survey data

    Download the data

    Download full dataset (CSV, 153KB)

    This file contains the following variables:

    • Measure code
    • Measure title
    • Chart type
    • Area type
    • Area name
    • Primary split type
    • Primary split value
    • Secondary split type
    • Secondary split value
    • Time period
    • Value
    • Unit
    • Group number

    Page history

    Publication release date:

    18 December 2025

    Editions of this page:

    This page replaces:

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