A recent national ranking of deprivation in England has placed several Midlands towns and cities among the poorest, with Birmingham ranking as the second most deprived city in the country. Only one location ranks worse than Birmingham.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government compiled the list using data on income, employment, education, health, crime, housing quality, and the local environment. Birmingham emerged as the only Midlands city within the national top 10 most deprived areas.
Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent also made the list, ranking 18th and 19th respectively among the country’s most deprived cities. Nearly half of Birmingham’s neighborhoods (43%) are classified as highly deprived, with Druids Heath identified as the area facing the greatest challenges.
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In fact, the six most deprived neighborhoods in England are all located in Birmingham, underscoring the city’s ongoing socio-economic struggles. When considering the city as a whole, Birmingham is ranked only above Middlesbrough in terms of deprivation.
Birmingham’s situation has deteriorated since 2019, when it was previously ranked seventh on the list. Other parts of the Midlands also feature prominently: Walsall ranks 27th, Wolverhampton 32nd, and Sandwell, once known as one of the most deprived boroughs, has now fallen to 54th place.