Term: Census Family

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2024-03-12

Definition:

According to Statistics Canada, refers to couples (married or common-law), with or without children, and lone parents with at least one child, living within the same dwelling.

All members of a particular census family live in the same dwelling. Children may be biological or adopted as long as they live in the same dwelling and do not have their own married spouse, common-law partner or child living in the dwelling. Grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present also constitute a census family.

Related concepts 

• Family Structure Overview - Links to Family Structure Data and Related Concepts and Glossary Terms

Related terms 

• Canadian Census Data
• Census Family Income
• Family Structure, Registry
• Household
• Household Income
• Statistics Canada

References 

• Martens PJ, Bond R, Jebamani L, Burchill C, Roos NP, Derksen S, Beaulieu M, Steinbach C, MacWilliam L, Walld R, Dik N, Sanderson D, Health Information and Research Committee AoMC, Tanner-Spence M, Leader A, Elias B, O'Neil J. The Health and Health Care Use of Registered First Nations People Living in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2002. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Statistics Canada. “Census Family.” Definitions, data sources and methods. March 13, 2023. (Published on the Statistics Canada website: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3Var.pl?Function=Unit&Id=32746 - accessed February 20, 2024). [Summary] (View)
• Statistics Canada. “Family structure of census family.” Definitions, data sources and methods. April 12, 2022. (Published on the Statistics Canada website: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3Var.pl?Function=DECI&Id=31995 - accessed February 20, 2024). [Summary] (View)