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Affluence in Cardiff

How Cardiff ranks on deprivation and income, and the work and qualifications behind it.

Council
Cardiff
Region
Wales
Population
360,312 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off Cardiff is

On the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025, Cardiff scores 5.7 out of 10, placing it close to the middle of the range for Wales. Its lowest-scoring category is living environment (2.4 out of 10). Scores are ranked within Wales only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
5.7/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 205 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Living environment2.4
  • Housing3.9
  • Community safety5.5
  • Income5.7
  • Health and disability5.8
  • Employment6.2
  • Education and skills6.4
  • Access to services7.6
Income

Household income

Average yearly household income before tax (2022/23), estimated for local neighbourhoods.

Annual income
£50,357
Before tax, all sources
Wales
£44,854
Above the national average
Higher than
43%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

50.5% of adults in Cardiff are in work, broadly in line with the Wales average of 51.9%. 16.8% are retired and 17.1% are full-time students.

CardiffWales
Employee, full-time32.2%31.9%
Employee, part-time11.2%11.8%
Self-employed7.1%8.2%
Unemployed2.8%2.5%
Full-time student17.1%7.9%
Retired16.8%24.7%
Looking after home or family4.7%4.3%
Long-term sick or disabled5.1%5.9%
Other3.1%2.9%
Occupations

Social grade

33.1% of adults in Cardiff work in managerial or professional jobs, broadly in line with the Wales average of 29.6%.

CardiffWales
Higher managerial & professional13.8%10.2%
Lower managerial & professional19.3%19.4%
Intermediate11%11.6%
Small employers & self-employed7.1%10.1%
Lower supervisory & technical4.1%6.2%
Semi-routine9.8%13.1%
Routine9.3%13.2%
Never worked & long-term unemployed8.9%8.5%
Full-time students16.7%7.6%
Education

Highest qualification

39.4% of adults in Cardiff hold a degree or equivalent, above the Wales average of 31.5%. 16.6% have no qualifications.

CardiffWales
Degree level or above39.4%31.5%
A level or equivalent19.5%17.2%
GCSE grade 4/C or above11.1%14.4%
Below GCSE grade 4/C6.9%8.7%
Apprenticeship3.9%5.6%
Other qualifications2.6%2.7%
No qualifications16.6%19.9%

Sources: Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025; ONS small area income estimates; Census 2021 (ONS). Open Government Licence v3.0.

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