The Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) is an area-based index that is composed of four dimensions of deprivation and marginalization: residential instability; situational vulnerability; economic dependency; and, ethno-cultural composition. The purpose of the CIMD is to illustrate differences in deprivation between areas, and to better understand inequalities in various measures of socio-economic characteristics for geographical areas or population groups.

The index was created using data from Dissemination areas (DAs) across the country. Using factor analysis, DA-level factor scores were calculated for each dimension. Within a dimension, ordered scores were assigned a quintile value, 1 through 5, where 1 represents the least deprived and 5 represents the most deprived.

In addition to the national index, three provincial and two regional indexes were developed. The provincial and regional indexes use somewhat different sets of variables in each dimension of deprivation and the relevant provincial and regional averages are used when calculating the scores (instead of the national average).

Component scores of the index were constructed from the component analysis process. Lower scores for each dimension correspond to areas that are the least marginalized, while higher scores for each dimension relate to areas that are the most marginalized.

The Community Data Program acquired CIMD scores at the Census Tract, Census Subdivision and Census Division level.  The scores for these geographic levels were produced by calculating a population-weighted average of the DA-level scores for all DAs falling within the relevant geographic unit. 

A copy of the CIMD User Guide is available in the file package or can be viewed here:  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-20-0001/452000012023002-eng.htm

The User Guide describes the variables that go into each of the dimensions of deprivation and the method used for calculating the scores.