Deprivation Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find downloadable files relating to SIMD?
Files relating to SIMD may now be found on the Scottish Government website.
Where can I find datazone population files?
These can be found on the GROS website or from Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics.
Why do the deciles and quintiles on the ISD website differ from those on the Scottish Government SIMD website?
Quintiles and deciles published on the ISD website are population based which is why they may differ from those available on the Scottish Government (SG) website. Also the categorisation of these quintiles and deciles differ - on the ISD website for any analysis using SIMD2004 or SIMD2006 - 1 represents the least deprived datazones and 5 (or 10 when looking at deciles) represents the most deprived datazones. Note: For all SIMD2009 analysis this method of ordering has been reversed to match that used by the SG, i.e. 1 represents the MOST deprived datazones and 5 (or 10 when looking at deciles) represents the LEAST deprived datazones.
What is the latest SIMD available?
The latest SIMD was published in October 2009. At this time ISD recommend using SIMD2009 for current analyses and trend analyses back to 1999.
How do I use a combination of versions of SIMD?
Each version of SIMD (2004, 2006 & 2009) are based on slightly different methodologies and data sources and, as such, are not directly comparable. For more information on this and for other general SIMD queries please see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/SIMD. As a result it is not recommended to combine versions of SIMD in the same analysis; for all current analyses and trend analyses back to 1999 SIMD2009 should be used.
