Poverty and Deprivation

According to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation, 10 of Oxford's 83 neighbourhood areas ('Super Output Areas') are among the 20% most deprived areas in England. These areas, which are in the Leys, Rose Hill, Littlemore, Barton and areas of the city, experience multiple levels of deprivation – low skills, low incomes and relatively high levels of crime.

The 2008/09 recession caused a rise in unemployment which was particularly acute amongst low-income groups and deprived areas. For more information see our economic statistics.

Men and women living in relatively deprived areas have a shorter life expectancy than those living in the least deprived areas. For more information see our health statistics page.

After adjusting for housing costs, 26% of children in Oxford live below the poverty line. According to the IoD 2019 rates of child poverty have reduced in the most deprived neighbourhoods but there remain six Oxford neighbourhoods with child poverty rates over 30% (Indices of Deprivation 2019).

In November 2021 Oxford had 3,575 (3.4%) working–age residents claiming unemployment benefits (Jobseeker's Allowances or Universal Credit claimants who are out of work). The rate for June 2020 is now over twice the rate for the same period last year but is still below the national and regional rates of 6.3 and 5.1 respectively. Oxford is the only Oxfordshire district to have seen an increase in the number of claimants between May and June 2020 (up by 25 claimants). Latest figures on the number of benefit claimants