This paper looks at the relationship between poverty and ethnic background of the population living in Birmingham wards. The aim is to draw a picture based on the existing statistical evidence and describe the different dimensions of deprivation at local level and across ethnic groups. The extent to which the local government’s spending meets the needs of deprived areas and communities is also addressed. The paper’s geographical focus is on areas with a large concentration of ethnic minority groups and especially on deprived wards in south-central Birmingham. The analysis has been hindered by some data shortage. Information on socio-economic outcomes of different ethnic groups is not available after the Census, and this is a major challenge to public policy development, especially in situations of rapid demographic change as in the case of Birmingham.