Somerset key facts and insights

Local data and evidence on community needs, demographics and outcomes to support funding bids in Somerset.

This page provides key data and evidence on community needs in Somerset, including demographics, deprivation, health and economic outcomes. It is designed to support charities and other local organisations developing funding bids, grant applications and needs assessments.

While this summary highlights some statistics and trends, more detailed analysis is available through our On Demand service and includes small-area data, benchmarking and the most recent data. You can also explore key facts and insights for other areas here. 

Deprivation and Community Need

IMD Average Rank: 16,980 (about the same as the national average = 16,746)
(Source: MHCLG, Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2025)

% of neighbourhoods in the most deprived 20% nationally: 8.6%
(Source: MHCLG, IMD Deciles, 2025)

Community Needs Index (CNI) Rank: 11,348 (higher community need than the national average = 17,040)
(Source: OCSI, Community Needs Index, 2023)

Population and Demographics 

Total population: 588,328
(Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2024)

% aged 0–15: 98,711 (16.78%)
(Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2024)

% aged 65+: 149,580 (25.42%)
(Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2024)

Gender split: 287,953 (48.94%)  male / 300,375 (51.06%) female
(Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2024)

Employment and Financial Pressure 

Unemployment benefit claimant rate: 2.67% (lower than the national average = 4.10%)
(Source: DWP, Universal Credit & JSA, Mar 2026)

Youth unemployment (18–24): 4.97% (lower than the national average = 5.95%)
(Source: DWP, Universal Credit & JSA, Mar 2026)

Older person unemployment (50+): 0.84% (lower than the national average = 1.54%)
(Source: DWP, Universal Credit & JSA, Mar 2026)

Health and Wellbeing 

% receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP): 9.54% (lower than the national average = 9.85%)
(Source: DWP, Personal Independence Payment, 2026)

% with day-to-day activities limited a lot: 7.36% (about the same as the national average = 7.33%)
(Source: Census 2021)

% reporting bad or very bad health: 5.12% (about the same as the national average = 5.15%)
(Source: Census 2021)

Need more detailed data on Somerset?

Use On Demand to understand local need quickly and back your decisions with credible evidence. On Demand provides more detailed analysis including:

• Data for specific neighbourhoods such as wards and LSOAs
• Counts (ie – the number of people affected) as well as rates.
• Benchmarking to relevant areas
• Trends over time
• Commentary about what the data shows
• Visualisations to bring the data to life.

Take a look to see how On Demand can help you strengthen funding bids, plan services and target support where it matters most.

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