Population & Deprivation: Ageing population; areas of significant deprivation.
Health Outcomes: Life expectancy overall lower than England average and large inequalities between MSOAs.
Behavioural Risks: High rates of hospital admissions in some local areas; child health indicators poor in some of the most deprived areas.
Disease Burden: Moderately high LTC prevalence overall; but high burden in most deprived areas, and ageing trend will further increase demand.
Wider Determinants: Low economic activity; high benefit dependency; average housing stability.
There is no single definition of a neighbourhood in the NHS and local authority planning context.
Neighbourhoods can be understood in several ways: Administrative or statistical boundaries such as wards, parishes, or Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs), which provide stable geographies for data analysis.
Economic centres like market towns or main urban areas, reflecting where people live, work, and access services.
Functional service areas, for example, GP practice or NHS trust catchments, which align with how health and care services are delivered.
Collaborative structures such as Primary Care Networks (PCNs) or integrated care partnerships, which represent groups of organisations working together to serve a defined population.
These neighbourhood profiles draw on recorded data for these areas -whether by GP practice population, PCN, or statistical geography - to provide a shared evidence base for planning, resource allocation, and addressing health inequalities.
The Lowestoft neighbourhood area is characterised by predominantly urban areas, much of which with significant deprivation.
The population’s age distribution is similar to the Norfolk & Waveney average, but there are large differences between local areas.
Socioeconomic deprivation is considerable and varies greatly between small areas.
32.9% of the population of Lowestoft live in small areas that are among the 20% most deprived areas in England (Core20 areas). Across Norfolk and Waveney, 14.4% live in Core20 areas.
Small areas (MSOAs) with the highest proportions of non-White residents in Lowestoft include Lowestoft Harbour & Kirkley (5.0%) and Lowestoft Central (4.9%).
In Lowestoft, 30.2% of children aged 0-19 live in low-income families, compared to 22.8% across Norfolk and Waveney and 22.2% across England. 41.6% of children aged 0 to 15 in Lowestoft are estimated to live in poverty according to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). In England overall, this is 36.25%.
Economically Active Definition: Aged between 16-64 and either in employment, unemployed but looking for work and could start within two weeks of an offer, or unemployed but waiting to start a job that had been offered and accepted.
During the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents (aged 16-64) who were economically active within the Norfolk and Waveney neighbourhoods was generally lower than both the East of England (61.8% economically active) and England average (60.9% economically active).Within the Lowestoft neighbourhood, 53% of working-age residents were classified as economically active, while 47% were economically inactive. This places the area among the less economically active neighbourhoods and below both regional and national averages.
Levels of economic activity reported across MSOAs within the Lowestoft neighbourhood during the 2021 Census varied considerably. Within the neighbourhood, Pakefield North recorded the lowest proportion of economically active residents aged 16-64 at 46.8%, indicating high levels of economic inactivity among the working-age population.
In contrast, Carlton Colville recorded the highest proportion of economically active residents (61.3%) among MSOAs within the neighbourhood, exceeding the England average (60.9%) but remaining slightly below the East of England average (61.8%). This suggests above-average rates of economic activity compared with national levels, though not as high as those seen regionally.
Occupation, as recorded in the 2021 Census, is derived from an individual’s main job title and the activities associated with that role. Values are based on the proportion of usual residents aged 16 and over in employment. In the Lowestoft neighbourhood, Caring and Leisure occupations represented the largest occupational group, with 13.5% of usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment engaged in these roles. This mirrors patterns observed across Norfolk and England. In addition, the proportion of residents employed in elementary roles exceeded the averages for Norfolk and England, indicating a comparatively high presence of individuals engaged in routine and manual forms of work within the neighbourhood, compared to county and national averages.
In contrast, employment in professional and managerial occupations was consistently below the Norfolk average and the England average. This suggests a relatively low concentration of individuals engaged in leadership or decision-making roles within the neighbourhood, compared to county and national averages.
Universal Credit is a monthly payment from the government to help with living costs for individuals on a low income or out of work. Eligible individuals must be between 18 and 66 years of age and have less than £16,000 in money, saving and investments.
The Graph shows the proportion of the population (aged 18-66) claiming Universal Credit across different neighbourhoods in Norfolk during August 2025. The proportion of residents claiming Universal Credit varies significantly across neighbourhoods. Lowestoft had a significantly higher proportion of individual claimants (26.4%) than 18 of the 19 other neighbourhoods during August 2025. In addition, the proportion of claimants was significantly higher than both the East of England (16.3%) and England (18%) averages. This suggests that Lowestoft may experience comparatively higher levels of financial vulnerability or reliance on welfare support than seen regionally or nationally.
In August 2025, the proportion of residents (aged 18 to 66) claiming Universal Credit varied significantly across MSOAs within the Lowestoft neighbourhood (ranging from 8.4%- 49.6%).
Lowestoft Harbour and Kirkley recorded the highest proportion of claimants at 49.6%, significantly more claimants than all other MSOAs within the neighbourhood. This figure was also significantly higher than the East of England (16.3%) average and the England average (18%).Oulton Broad West reported the lowest proportion of claimants at 8.4%, significantly fewer claimants compared to all other MSOAs within the area and both the East of England and England average.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) entitlement statistics covers individuals currently receiving PIP and those whose payments are temporarily suspended (e.g., during a hospital stay).To be eligible for PIP an individual needs to be between 16-66 and have a long-term condition which makes everyday tasks or mobility difficult. PIP provides support through two components: daily living (help with everyday activities) and mobility (help with getting around). During June 2025, the Lowestoft neighbourhood had a significantly higher proportion of individuals entitled to PIP (15.4%) than 18 of the other 19 neighbourhoods. Entitlement was also significantly higher than the East of England (8%) and England average (8.7%) indicating significantly higher levels of PIP entitlement in this area compared with regional and national averages. In June 2025, the proportion of residents aged 16 to 66 entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) across MSOAs within the Lowestoft neighbourhood varied significantly(ranging from 7.4%-25%).Lowestoft Harbour and Kirkley recorded the highest entitlement rate at 25%, significantly higher than all other MSOAs within the neighbourhood. This figure was also significantly higher than the East of England (8%) average and the England average (8.7%).Oulton Broad West reported the lowest PIP entitlement rate at 7.4%, which was significantly lower than all other MSOAs within the area and the England average, while being comparable to the East of England average. This suggests that, although entitlement in Oulton Broad West is low compared with other MSOAs locally and the national level, it reflects typical patterns seen regionally.
Compared to England, Lowestoft has a higher proportion of homes owned outright (40% vs 32.5%) and a lower proportion with a mortgage (24.8% vs 28.8%). Its combined social renting rate (council and housing association) is 14.4%, which is lower than the national average of 17.1%. The private renting rate (Landlord/rent free/other) at 20.5% is similar to the England average (20.6%).
Compared to the overall neighbourhood average, Lowestoft has a similar proportion of homes owned outright but a lower proportion of properties that are mortgaged or rented, whether through social housing or the private sector.
Life expectancy is overall below the England and Norfolk averages. There are stark differences between small areas along variation in deprivation. Overall, premature and preventable mortality are only moderately higher than England, but there are small areas with severely worse mortality outcomes compared to national benchmarks.
There is wide local variation alongside variation in deprivation - local areas show a difference of 8 years in male life expectancy and almost 10 years in female life expectancy.
The most deprived areas have much lower life expectancies than the less deprived areas.
Females live longer than males in all areas.
There is a large gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas of Great Yarmouth and Waveney. The leading causes of premature death - circulatory disease, cancer and respiratory diseased - are more prevalent in more deprived areas. Targeted prevention and improved access to care are essential for reducing this inequality.
Healthy life expectancy is generally lower in Lowestoft compared to other areas in Norfolk, especially for females. There is stark variation between the most and least deprived small areas. Within the Lowestoft neighbourhood area, female healthy life expectancy was lowest in Lowestoft Harbour & Kirkley and highest in Gunton East, Corton & Somerleyton and Oulton Broad West in 2021. Male healthy life expectancy was lowest in Lowestoft Central and highest in Oulton Broad West in 2021.
There were 1,654 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Lowestoft in 2019 - 23. Overall, the rate of premature mortality was 16% higher than the England average.
Locally, the highest rate of premature mortality was in Lowestoft Harbour & Kirkley (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 206), twice the national average rate. The lowest rate was in Oulton Broad West. Four small areas (MSOAs) had a significantly worse premature mortality rate than the England average .
In 2019 - 23, 762 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Lowestoft were from causes considered preventable. Overall, there was a 16% higher rate of preventable mortality compared to the national average.
Locally, the highest rate of preventable mortality was in Lowestoft Harbour & Kirkley (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 226.4), more than twice the national average rate. The lowest rate was in Oulton Broad West. Four small areas (MSOAs) had a significantly worse preventable mortality rate than the England average .
Childhood overweight prevalence in Year 6 is high, and rates of emergency hospital admissions are significantly elevated for some local areas.
The burden of long-term conditions is overall only moderately higher than the Norfolk and Waveney average, but there is marked variation between local areas alongside deprivation. Respiratory conditions, harmful behaviours and cardiovascular disease remain priorities for prevention and management.
This chart shows the estimated number of patients with major long-term conditions within the Lowestoft PCN. Diabetes affects around 6,900 adults, and chronic kidney disease affects 4,600 people.
Stroke and transient ischaemic attack affect approximately 1,900 people. These figures highlight a significant burden of metabolic and cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the need for integrated prevention and management strategies.
Age-standardised unplanned hospital admission rates in the Lowestoft neighbourhood area are generally higher than those seen other areas.
Rates for children and young people are particularly high.