The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 (IMD 2000) showed relative levels of social and economic deprivation across all the counties of England at a ward level, the first national study of its kind.

Deprivation across the 8414 wards in the country was assessed, using the following criteria:

• Income
• Employment
• Health
• Education
• Housing
• Access
• Child Poverty

Wards ranking in the most deprived 10 per cent in the country were earmarked for additional funding and assistance.

The five most deprived wards in England were found to be:

• 1. Benchill
  Benchill
  Benchill is a district of the city of Manchester, England, part of the massive Wythenshawe council estate, approximately eight miles south of Manchester City Centre....
  
   in Manchester
  Manchester
  Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
  
  .
• 2. Speke
  Speke
  Speke is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes....
  
   in Liverpool
  Liverpool
  Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
  
  .
• 3. Thorntree
  Thorntree
  Thorntree is a housing estate in east Middlesbrough within the unitary authority of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England.It is so called because it was built on land which was Thorntree Farm....
  
   in Middlesbrough
  Middlesbrough
  Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
  
  .
• 4. Everton in Liverpool.
• 5. Pallister
  Pallister
  Pallister is a housing estate in east Middlesbrough in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. Located within the TS3 postcode area, it is also known as Pallister Park or Pally Park because of the public park located at the estates northern edge...
  
   in Middlesbrough.

The five least deprived wards in England were found to be:

• 8414. Aldenham East in Hertsmere
  Hertsmere
  Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Borehamwood. Other towns in the borough include Bushey, Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar.-History:...
  
  .
• 8413. Chorleywood West in Three Rivers
  Three Rivers (district)
  Three Rivers is a local government district in Hertfordshire in the East of England. Its council is based in Rickmansworth.It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Rickmansworth Urban District and Chorleywood Urban District with part of Watford Rural District...
  
  .
• 8412. Riverhead
  Riverhead, Kent
  Riverhead, a one-time small village and now a village part of the built-up area to the north of the town Sevenoaks, is also a civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish has a population of around 2500...
  
   in Sevenoaks
  Sevenoaks
  Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
  
  .
• 8411. Hazelmere West in Wycombe.
• 8410. in St Albans
  St Albans
  St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
  
  .

IMD2000 was the subject of some controversy, and was succeeded by the Indices of deprivation 2004 which abandoned ward-level data and sampled much smaller geographical areas.