West Berkshire one of least deprived districts
Just 2.5 per cent or 2,100 people of the working-age population in the district were unemployed in 2023.
Last updated 27th Sep 2025
West Berkshire is one of the least deprived areas in England according to official figures.
There are only four other local authorities in the nation that have less deprivation than West Berkshire.
This is substantially lower than the England rate at 3.7 per cent and the lowest reported rate in South East England.
The figures are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and they also say in 2022, 7.7 per cent of people did not have enough income to afford sufficient fuel.
This, however, is lower than the regional rate of 9.7 per cent and the national rate of 13.1 per cent.
A report to West Berkshire’s health board says people living in rural areas generally experience greater financial stability and better overall health than those in urban settings.
However, this can sometimes mask inequalities within rural communities, where some face significant deprivation and poorer health outcomes.
According to the Rural Deprivation Index for Health, no areas in West Berkshire are ranked within the 10 per cent most disadvantaged in the district.
Overall, rural populations are older than those in urban areas, with an average age nearly six years higher.