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City

Affluence in Edinburgh

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

Council
City of Edinburgh
Region
Scotland
Population
507,814 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off Edinburgh is

On the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020, Edinburgh scores 6.9 out of 10, placing it more affluent than most of Scotland. Scores are ranked within Scotland only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
6.9/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 573 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Income

Household income

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

ONS publishes small-area income estimates for England and Wales only.
Work

Who is in work

55.8% of adults in Edinburgh are in work, broadly in line with the Scotland average of 55%. 18.4% are retired and 15.7% are full-time students.

EdinburghScotland
Employee, full-time37.8%36.1%
Employee, part-time10.1%11.5%
Self-employed7.8%7.4%
Unemployed1.6%1.9%
Full-time student15.7%8.8%
Retired18.4%23.3%
Looking after home or family2.8%3.4%
Long-term sick or disabled3.7%5.2%
Other2.1%2.3%
Occupations

Social grade

41.2% of adults in Edinburgh work in managerial or professional jobs, above the Scotland average of 33.1%.

EdinburghScotland
Higher managerial & professional19.3%12%
Lower managerial & professional21.9%21.1%
Intermediate10.3%11.8%
Small employers & self-employed6.8%8%
Lower supervisory & technical4.9%7.1%
Semi-routine7.8%11.2%
Routine8.8%13.5%
Never worked & long-term unemployed5.2%6.8%
Full-time students15.2%8.5%
Education

Highest qualification

50.2% of adults in Edinburgh hold a degree or equivalent, well above the Scotland average of 32.5%. 9.7% have no qualifications.

EdinburghScotland
Degree level or above50.2%32.5%
College or HNC/HND9.2%13.2%
Highers or equivalent12.4%11.2%
National 4/5 or equivalent14.2%18.9%
Apprenticeship4.3%7.6%
No qualifications9.7%16.7%

Sources: Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020; ONS small area income estimates; Scotland's Census 2022 (NRS). Open Government Licence v3.0.

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