Research and analysis

Social Mobility Index

Information about the Social Mobility Index, a framework for measuring social mobility in the UK published in 2016, 2017 and 2022. Includes an overview of the index.

• From: Social Mobility Commission
• Published: 31 January 2016
• Last updated: 12 May 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Overview: the Social Mobility Index

HTML

The Social Mobility Index 2016 (PDF)

PDF, 10 MB, 39 pages

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Methodology for the social mobility index 2016

HTML

Methodology for the social mobility index 2016 (PDF)

PDF, 258 KB, 9 pages

Data for the social mobility index 2016

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 2.91 MB

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Data for the social mobility index 2017

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 506 KB

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Details

The Social Mobility Index is a framework for measuring social mobility in the UK. It enables a systematic look at social mobility outcomes, as well as the drivers behind social mobility. It sets out a long-term vision for measuring and monitoring social mobility outcomes over the next 30 years across the UK.

The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) published the first Social Mobility Index in 2016. The original index included data on geographic disparities across England in some social mobility drivers.

2016 Social Mobility Index

The report compares the chances for children from poorer backgrounds:

• doing well at school
• finding a good job
• having a decent standard of living

The methodology report:

• explains which data was used
• defines social mobility and disadvantage
• explains how to understand and use the data spreadsheet

The data spreadsheet shows the social mobility index by local authority.

2017 Social Mobility Index

The 2017 social mobility index uses a range of 16 indicators for every life stage – from the early years through to adulthood – listing the hotspots and coldspots of the country.

Published 31 January 2016

Last updated 12 May 2023 + show all updates

1. 12 May 2023

   Added an overview of the Social Mobility Index, which includes links to social mobility data from 2022 in the SMC's State of the Nation report.

2. 16 June 2016

   Correction to Westminster local authority’s school and youth rankings in the social mobility index data spreadsheet.

3. 10 May 2016

   Updated the document 'Data for the social mobility index'.

4. 31 January 2016

   First published.