Middlesborough, Blackpool and Manchester are the worst areas to be born a girl in England and Wales, while Waverley in Surrey is the best.

That’s according to a new report, which ranked the best and worst places to be a girl in England and Wales – and showed that where a girl is born can have a profound impact on her quality of life.

The study, produced by Plan International UK in collaboration with the University of Hull, analysed data from local authorities across England and Wales. Researchers also conducted interviews with over 100 girls and young women to try and gain a clearer picture of the issues affecting girls today.

They discovered a stark geographic divide. The south-east of England, particularly Surrey, performs the best, while inner-city areas tend to perform poorly.

The 10 worst local authority areas to be a girl in England and Wales

Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Blackpool, Lancashire
Manchester
Nottingham
Liverpool
Knowsley, Merseyside
Hastings, East Sussex
Kingston upon Hull
Salford, Greater Manchester
Sandwell, West Midlands

These are the best and worst places to be born a girl in England and Wales