This article describes the methodology employed to create an index of multiple deprivation for children in South Africa at small-area level and presents the picture of deprivation across the country exposed by the index. Making use of information from the 2001 Census, 14 child-focused indicators were arranged into five domains of deprivation—income, employment, education, living environment and adequate care—which were then combined with equal weights to form an overall index of multiple deprivation at municipality level. The patterns of deprivation across South Africa within each domain and on the overall index are examined at national, provincial and municipal level. The article ends with a discussion of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the index and suggestions for future work in this area.