Conditions of childhood
Published:
29 October 2026
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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.
Data
| Region | 2018 to 2025 | 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 | 0.28 | 30-70% | 0.52 | Top 15-30% | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.74 | Top 15-30% |
| Aberdeenshire | 0.99 | Top 15-30% | -0.11 | 30-70% | 0.49 | 30-70% | 0.71 | Top 15-30% |
| Angus | -0.30 | 30-70% | -0.08 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | -0.18 | 30-70% |
| Argyll and Bute Islands | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.23 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% |
| Barking and Dagenham | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.08 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Barnet | 1.35 | Top 5-15% | 1.72 | Top 5% | 1.83 | Top 5% | 1.79 | Top 5% |
| Barnsley | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.24 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.10 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.36 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 1.45 | Top 5-15% | 1.17 | Top 5-15% | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 1.60 | Top 5% |
| Bedford | 0.57 | Top 15-30% | 1.05 | Top 5-15% | 0.57 | Top 15-30% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% |
| Bexley | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% | 0.36 | 30-70% | 0.17 | 30-70% |
| Birmingham | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | -2.03 | Bottom 5% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Blackpool | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.57 | Bottom 5% | -1.36 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.85 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Blaenau Gwent | -1.27 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.59 | Bottom 5% | -1.79 | Bottom 5% | -1.96 | Bottom 5% |
| Bolton | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.55 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.13 | 30-70% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 0.29 | 30-70% | 0.21 | 30-70% | -0.15 | 30-70% | -0.14 | 30-70% |
| Bracknell Forest | 0.74 | Top 15-30% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% | 0.95 | Top 15-30% | 1.37 | Top 5-15% |
| Bradford | -0.97 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.03 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.93 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Brent | 0.02 | 30-70% | 0.28 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% |
| Bridgend | -0.50 | 30-70% | -0.23 | 30-70% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Brighton and Hove | 1.36 | Top 5-15% | 1.41 | Top 5-15% | 1.37 | Top 5-15% | 1.52 | Top 5% |
| Bristol, City of | 0.88 | Top 15-30% | 0.52 | Top 15-30% | 0.67 | Top 15-30% | 0.31 | 30-70% |
| Bromley | 1.66 | Top 5% | 1.77 | Top 5% | 1.63 | Top 5% | 1.48 | Top 5-15% |
| Buckinghamshire | 1.56 | Top 5% | 1.67 | Top 5% | 2.00 | Top 5% | 2.00 | Top 5% |
| Bury | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.40 | 30-70% | 0.31 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% |
| Caerphilly | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.95 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Calderdale | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | 0.06 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% |
| Cambridgeshire CC | 0.78 | Top 15-30% | 0.92 | Top 15-30% | 1.29 | Top 5-15% | 1.12 | Top 5-15% |
| Camden and City of London | 2.17 | Top 5% | 2.18 | Top 5% | 2.48 | Top 5% | 1.45 | Top 5-15% |
| Cardiff | 0.92 | Top 15-30% | 0.63 | Top 15-30% | 0.64 | Top 15-30% | 0.60 | Top 15-30% |
| Carmarthenshire | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.02 | 30-70% | -0.28 | 30-70% |
| Central Bedfordshire | 0.67 | Top 15-30% | 0.51 | Top 15-30% | 0.69 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% |
| Ceredigion | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.39 | 30-70% |
| Cheshire East | 0.70 | Top 15-30% | 1.23 | Top 5-15% | 1.26 | Top 5-15% | 1.13 | Top 5-15% |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 1.53 | Top 5% | 0.70 | Top 15-30% | 0.57 | Top 15-30% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% |
| City of Edinburgh | 1.42 | Top 5-15% | 1.72 | Top 5% | 1.55 | Top 5% | 1.69 | Top 5% |
| Clackmannanshire | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% |
| Conwy | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.40 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% |
| Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Coventry | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.28 | 30-70% |
| Croydon | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.63 | Top 15-30% | 0.33 | 30-70% | 0.62 | Top 15-30% |
| Cumbria | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Darlington | -0.17 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Denbighshire | -1.24 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.07 | 30-70% | -0.30 | 30-70% |
| Derby | -0.30 | 30-70% | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Derbyshire | -0.12 | 30-70% | -0.16 | 30-70% | -0.10 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% |
| Devon CC | 0.16 | 30-70% | 0.39 | 30-70% | 0.11 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% |
| Doncaster | -1.49 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.18 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.48 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.37 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Dorset | -0.12 | 30-70% | 0.33 | 30-70% | 0.22 | 30-70% | 0.25 | 30-70% |
| Dudley | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.50 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Dundee City | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.06 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Durham | -0.95 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Ealing | 1.58 | Top 5% | 0.52 | Top 15-30% | 0.98 | Top 15-30% | 1.18 | Top 5-15% |
| East Ayrshire | -0.55 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.34 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.21 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.14 | Bottom 15-5% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1.65 | Top 5% | 2.10 | Top 5% | 1.69 | Top 5% | 1.66 | Top 5% |
| East Lothian | 0.86 | Top 15-30% | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.27 | 30-70% | 0.16 | 30-70% |
| East Renfrewshire | 1.67 | Top 5% | 1.22 | Top 5-15% | 1.53 | Top 5% | 2.29 | Top 5% |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | -0.00 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% | 0.44 | 30-70% | 0.19 | 30-70% |
| East Sussex CC | 0.02 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% | 0.34 | 30-70% | 0.54 | Top 15-30% |
| Enfield | -0.08 | 30-70% | -0.10 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.43 | 30-70% |
| Essex | 0.33 | 30-70% | 0.23 | 30-70% | 0.42 | 30-70% | 0.42 | 30-70% |
| Falkirk | -0.44 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | 0.05 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% |
| Fife | -0.15 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% | -0.49 | 30-70% |
| Flintshire | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.00 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% |
| Gateshead | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Glasgow City | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Gloucestershire CC | 0.41 | 30-70% | 0.43 | 30-70% | 0.96 | Top 15-30% | 0.61 | Top 15-30% |
| Greenwich | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 0.13 | 30-70% | 0.60 | Top 15-30% | 0.22 | 30-70% |
| Gwynedd | -0.34 | 30-70% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.49 | 30-70% |
| Hackney | 0.73 | Top 15-30% | -0.20 | 30-70% | 0.22 | 30-70% | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Halton | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.23 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 2.32 | Top 5% | 1.96 | Top 5% | 2.25 | Top 5% | 1.62 | Top 5% |
| Hampshire | 0.87 | Top 15-30% | 0.89 | Top 15-30% | 0.94 | Top 15-30% | 0.82 | Top 15-30% |
| Haringey | 1.01 | Top 5-15% | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.73 | Top 15-30% | 0.40 | 30-70% |
| Harrow | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 0.66 | Top 15-30% | 0.89 | Top 15-30% | 1.61 | Top 5% |
| Hartlepool | -1.27 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.33 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.19 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Havering | 0.65 | Top 15-30% | 0.67 | Top 15-30% | -0.04 | 30-70% | 0.24 | 30-70% |
| Herefordshire, County of | -0.25 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.27 | 30-70% | -0.25 | 30-70% |
| Hertfordshire CC | 1.47 | Top 5-15% | 1.48 | Top 5-15% | 1.71 | Top 5% | 1.58 | Top 5% |
| Highland | 0.07 | 30-70% | -0.39 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% |
| Hillingdon | 0.16 | 30-70% | 0.21 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.34 | 30-70% |
| Hounslow | 0.65 | Top 15-30% | 0.63 | Top 15-30% | 0.45 | 30-70% | 0.55 | Top 15-30% |
| Inverclyde | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.46 | 30-70% |
| Isle of Anglesey | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -1.01 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Isle of Wight | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.02 | 30-70% | -0.92 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.61 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Islington | 1.63 | Top 5% | 0.46 | 30-70% | 1.49 | Top 5-15% | 0.62 | Top 15-30% |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 2.12 | Top 5% | 1.69 | Top 5% | 2.39 | Top 5% | 2.03 | Top 5% |
| Kent | 0.45 | 30-70% | 0.20 | 30-70% | 0.30 | 30-70% | 0.21 | 30-70% |
| Kingston upon Hull, City of | -1.92 | Bottom 5% | -2.03 | Bottom 5% | -1.91 | Bottom 5% | -1.76 | Bottom 5% |
| Kingston upon Thames | 1.95 | Top 5% | 1.93 | Top 5% | 2.30 | Top 5% | 2.29 | Top 5% |
| Kirklees | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.32 | 30-70% | -0.40 | 30-70% |
| Knowsley | -0.97 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.47 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.34 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Lambeth | 1.84 | Top 5% | 0.86 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 0.40 | 30-70% |
| Lancashire | -0.38 | 30-70% | -0.31 | 30-70% | -0.18 | 30-70% | -0.08 | 30-70% |
| Leeds | 0.36 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% |
| Leicester | -1.77 | Bottom 5% | -1.74 | Bottom 5% | -1.49 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.37 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Leicestershire CC | 0.37 | 30-70% | 0.29 | 30-70% | 0.47 | 30-70% | 0.42 | 30-70% |
| Lewisham | 1.32 | Top 5-15% | 1.29 | Top 5-15% | 0.77 | Top 15-30% | 0.58 | Top 15-30% |
| Lincolnshire CC | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.64 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.33 | 30-70% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Liverpool | 0.06 | 30-70% | -0.48 | 30-70% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Luton | -1.11 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.11 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.16 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Manchester | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.07 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Medway | -0.12 | 30-70% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Merthyr Tydfil | -1.26 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.18 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.54 | Bottom 5% | -1.20 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Merton | 1.42 | Top 5-15% | 2.01 | Top 5% | 1.20 | Top 5-15% | 1.24 | Top 5-15% |
| Middlesbrough | -1.90 | Bottom 5% | -1.27 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.14 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.62 | Bottom 5% |
| Midlothian | 0.75 | Top 15-30% | -0.01 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% |
| Milton Keynes | 0.58 | Top 15-30% | 0.89 | Top 15-30% | 0.40 | 30-70% | 0.52 | Top 15-30% |
| Monmouthshire | 0.64 | Top 15-30% | 0.86 | Top 15-30% | 0.72 | Top 15-30% | 1.39 | Top 5-15% |
| Moray | -0.84 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.33 | 30-70% | -0.53 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.09 | 30-70% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.32 | 30-70% | -0.08 | 30-70% | -0.97 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Neath Port Talbot | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -1.27 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.11 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | -0.27 | 30-70% | -0.42 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.09 | 30-70% |
| Newham | -1.09 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.27 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.62 | Bottom 5% | -1.62 | Bottom 5% |
| Newport | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.18 | 30-70% | -0.23 | 30-70% |
| North Ayrshire mainland | -1.39 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.31 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% |
| North East Lincolnshire | -1.90 | Bottom 5% | -1.73 | Bottom 5% | -1.31 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.43 | Bottom 15-5% |
| North Lanarkshire | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.56 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% |
| North Lincolnshire | -1.35 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.10 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.35 | Bottom 15-5% |
| North Northamptonshire | -0.86 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.53 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.37 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% |
| North Somerset | 0.64 | Top 15-30% | 0.88 | Top 15-30% | 0.76 | Top 15-30% | 0.96 | Top 15-30% |
| North Tyneside | -0.12 | 30-70% | -0.10 | 30-70% | -0.11 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% |
| North Yorkshire CC | 0.28 | 30-70% | 0.38 | 30-70% | 0.39 | 30-70% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% |
| Northern Ireland | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.49 | 30-70% | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Northumberland | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.20 | 30-70% | 0.25 | 30-70% | -0.23 | 30-70% |
| Norwich and Norfolk | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.50 | 30-70% | -0.30 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Nottingham | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.96 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.32 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Nottinghamshire | 0.14 | 30-70% | -0.02 | 30-70% | 0.08 | 30-70% | -0.07 | 30-70% |
| Oldham | -1.35 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.40 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.04 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Orkney Islands | -0.15 | 30-70% | -0.36 | 30-70% | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.11 | 30-70% |
| Oxfordshire CC | 1.54 | Top 5% | 1.60 | Top 5% | 1.35 | Top 5-15% | 1.39 | Top 5-15% |
| Pembrokeshire | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.21 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Perth and Kinross | 0.39 | 30-70% | 0.53 | Top 15-30% | 0.22 | 30-70% | 0.97 | Top 15-30% |
| Peterborough | -0.70 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.41 | 30-70% |
| Plymouth | -0.93 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.59 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Portsmouth | -0.37 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.34 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% |
| Powys | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.30 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% |
| Reading | 1.12 | Top 5-15% | 1.20 | Top 5-15% | 0.71 | Top 15-30% | 0.78 | Top 15-30% |
| Redbridge | 0.41 | 30-70% | 1.02 | Top 5-15% | 0.92 | Top 15-30% | 0.93 | Top 15-30% |
| Redcar and Cleveland | -1.33 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Renfrewshire | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% | -0.06 | 30-70% | 0.25 | 30-70% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | -1.07 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.99 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.80 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Richmond upon Thames | 2.61 | Top 5% | 3.48 | Top 5% | 3.85 | Top 5% | 4.26 | Top 5% |
| Rochdale | -1.57 | Bottom 5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.82 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Rotherham | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.59 | Bottom 5% | -1.20 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.85 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Rutland | 0.53 | Top 15-30% | 1.13 | Top 5-15% | 0.79 | Top 15-30% | 1.62 | Top 5% |
| Salford | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Sandwell | -1.73 | Bottom 5% | -2.01 | Bottom 5% | -1.49 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.65 | Bottom 5% |
| Scottish Borders | -0.21 | 30-70% | -0.75 | Bottom 30-15% | 0.02 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% |
| Sefton | 0.07 | 30-70% | -0.26 | 30-70% | -0.17 | 30-70% | -0.01 | 30-70% |
| Sheffield | 0.18 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% | -0.33 | 30-70% | 0.14 | 30-70% |
| Shetland Islands | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | 1.14 | Top 5-15% | 0.60 | Top 15-30% | 0.12 | 30-70% |
| Shropshire | 0.04 | 30-70% | -0.02 | 30-70% | 0.14 | 30-70% | 0.23 | 30-70% |
| Slough | -0.11 | 30-70% | -0.54 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.29 | 30-70% | -0.05 | 30-70% |
| Solihull | 1.21 | Top 5-15% | 0.91 | Top 15-30% | 1.03 | Top 5-15% | 1.35 | Top 5-15% |
| Somerset CC | -0.25 | 30-70% | -0.00 | 30-70% | -0.16 | 30-70% | -0.20 | 30-70% |
| South Ayrshire | -0.24 | 30-70% | 0.16 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% | -0.17 | 30-70% |
| South Gloucestershire | 0.71 | Top 15-30% | 0.34 | 30-70% | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% |
| South Lanarkshire | -0.30 | 30-70% | -0.14 | 30-70% | 0.18 | 30-70% | -0.19 | 30-70% |
| South Tyneside | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.90 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.87 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.08 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Southampton | -0.57 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.33 | 30-70% | -0.17 | 30-70% | -0.39 | 30-70% |
| Southend-on-Sea | -0.36 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.03 | 30-70% | -0.16 | 30-70% |
| Southwark | 1.43 | Top 5-15% | 0.83 | Top 15-30% | 0.37 | 30-70% | 0.27 | 30-70% |
| St Helens | -0.68 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.74 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.21 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Staffordshire CC | 0.29 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.16 | 30-70% | -0.04 | 30-70% |
| Stirling | 0.77 | Top 15-30% | 1.41 | Top 5-15% | 1.60 | Top 5% | 1.35 | Top 5-15% |
| Stockport | 1.07 | Top 5-15% | 1.09 | Top 5-15% | 1.06 | Top 5-15% | 0.33 | 30-70% |
| Stockton-on-Tees | -0.60 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.40 | 30-70% | -0.83 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Stoke-on-Trent | -1.24 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.60 | Bottom 5% | -1.59 | Bottom 5% | -1.71 | Bottom 5% |
| Suffolk CC | -0.71 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.28 | 30-70% | -0.13 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% |
| Sunderland | -1.37 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.10 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Surrey | 1.99 | Top 5% | 1.92 | Top 5% | 2.19 | Top 5% | 2.21 | Top 5% |
| Sutton | 1.70 | Top 5% | 1.33 | Top 5-15% | 0.85 | Top 15-30% | 0.94 | Top 15-30% |
| Swansea | -0.19 | 30-70% | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.05 | 30-70% | -0.29 | 30-70% |
| Swindon | -0.19 | 30-70% | 0.23 | 30-70% | 0.02 | 30-70% | 0.19 | 30-70% |
| Tameside | -0.51 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.94 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.72 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Telford and Wrekin | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.46 | 30-70% | -0.78 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Thurrock | -0.05 | 30-70% | -0.62 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.55 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.93 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Torbay | -0.76 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.67 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Torfaen | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.41 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.25 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.69 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Tower Hamlets | -0.55 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.07 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.52 | Bottom 5% | -1.89 | Bottom 5% |
| Trafford | 1.42 | Top 5-15% | 1.13 | Top 5-15% | 1.42 | Top 5-15% | 0.62 | Top 15-30% |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 0.44 | 30-70% | 1.40 | Top 5-15% | 0.59 | Top 15-30% | 0.57 | Top 15-30% |
| Wakefield | -0.73 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.02 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.23 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.91 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Walsall | -1.45 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.17 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.26 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.13 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Waltham Forest | 0.68 | Top 15-30% | -0.07 | 30-70% | -0.35 | 30-70% | -0.12 | 30-70% |
| Wandsworth | 2.51 | Top 5% | 3.10 | Top 5% | 2.44 | Top 5% | 2.75 | Top 5% |
| Warrington | 0.32 | 30-70% | 0.82 | Top 15-30% | 0.90 | Top 15-30% | 0.33 | 30-70% |
| Warwickshire CC | 0.77 | Top 15-30% | 0.71 | Top 15-30% | 0.55 | Top 15-30% | 0.42 | 30-70% |
| West Berkshire | 1.47 | Top 5-15% | 1.69 | Top 5% | 1.13 | Top 5-15% | 1.53 | Top 5% |
| West Dunbartonshire | -1.14 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.39 | 30-70% | -0.63 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.79 | Bottom 30-15% |
| West Lothian | -0.05 | 30-70% | 0.11 | 30-70% | 0.36 | 30-70% | 0.09 | 30-70% |
| West Northamptonshire | 0.24 | 30-70% | 0.10 | 30-70% | 0.62 | Top 15-30% | 0.34 | 30-70% |
| West Sussex | 0.84 | Top 15-30% | 0.69 | Top 15-30% | 0.69 | Top 15-30% | 0.71 | Top 15-30% |
| Westminster | 1.27 | Top 5-15% | 1.89 | Top 5% | 1.05 | Top 5-15% | 0.71 | Top 15-30% |
| Wigan | -0.25 | 30-70% | -0.66 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.45 | 30-70% | -0.65 | Bottom 30-15% |
| Wiltshire | 0.56 | Top 15-30% | 0.90 | Top 15-30% | 0.64 | Top 15-30% | 0.74 | Top 15-30% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 2.09 | Top 5% | 2.31 | Top 5% | 1.95 | Top 5% | 2.71 | Top 5% |
| Wirral | 0.09 | 30-70% | -0.12 | 30-70% | 0.01 | 30-70% | 0.04 | 30-70% |
| Wokingham | 2.34 | Top 5% | 2.50 | Top 5% | 2.45 | Top 5% | 2.35 | Top 5% |
| Wolverhampton | -1.60 | Bottom 5% | -0.81 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.05 | Bottom 15-5% | -1.23 | Bottom 15-5% |
| Worcestershire CC | -0.04 | 30-70% | 0.66 | Top 15-30% | 0.31 | 30-70% | 0.30 | 30-70% |
| Wrexham | -0.88 | Bottom 30-15% | -0.58 | Bottom 30-15% | -1.11 | Bottom 15-5% | -0.77 | Bottom 30-15% |
| York | 1.04 | Top 5-15% | 0.79 | Top 15-30% | 0.86 | Top 15-30% | 0.56 | Top 15-30% |
Download
For the full download file, see Download the data.
Summary main findings
Data for 2018 to 2025 combined shows that children brought up in the London boroughs of Hammersmith, Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, and Kingston upon Thames – as well as in Wokingham, Windsor, and Maidenhead (all in Berkshire) – have the strongest 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 good 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 2025 combined
Geographic area
UK
What the data measures
This page combines data from the following drivers into a single 'composite' score:
- Parental income
- Distribution of parental education
- Distribution of parental occupation – data on parents in working class and professional occupations
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, 144KB)
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
- Split order
Page history
Publication release date:
29 October 2026