=============== FAMILY UNIVERSE =============== Census Family ------------- Refers to a now-married couple (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both partners) or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one never-married son or daughter living in the same dwelling. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971,* 1966,* 1961* Reported for: Population in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and Hutterite collective households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: In the 1996 Census, the write-in responses for Question 2 (Relationship to Person 1) on the Form 2A were captured and processed as "Other write-ins". The write-in responses on Forms 2B, 2C, 2D and 3 (in collective households) were captured as reported by respondents. Unlike for previous censuses, the published output on families from the 1996 Census will be produced from the sample database. For further information, see the 1996 Census Technical Report on Families. In censuses prior to 1991, the families of now-married couples and those of common-law couples together constituted "husband-wife families" and appeared as such in most census family tables. The census family and its associated classifications and variables are derived based on responses to the questions on relationship to Person 1, sex, date of birth and marital status. In addition, consideration is given to the order in which household members are listed on the questionnaire and responses to a question on common-law status, which was new for the 1991 Census. * In censuses prior to 1976, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Census Family Composition ------------------------- Refers to the classification of census families according to the number and/or age groups of never-married sons and/or daughters at home. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971* Reported for: Census families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Families by Number of Never-married Sons and/or -------------------------------------------------- Daughters at Home ----------------- Families are classified to indicate those without never-married sons and daughters at home through to those with eight or more, as applicable. Families by Age Groups of Never-married Sons and/or --------------------------------------------------- Daughters at Home ----------------- Families with never-married sons and/or daughters at home are classified to indicate those with: - all never-married sons and/or daughters aged 18 or over; - at least one aged 18 or over and at least one aged 17 or under; - all never-married sons and/or daughters aged 17 or under. This last category may be further subdivided to show, for example, the following age groups of never-married sons and/or daughters at home. All under 6 years All 6-14 years All 15-17 years Some under 6 and some 6-14 years Some under 6 and some 15-17 years Some 6-14 and some 15-17 years Some under 6, some 6-14 and some 15-17 years (Some refers to at least one son or one daughter in each age group.) Remarks: Different age groups in addition to those described above may appear in some tables. In previous censuses, census family composition referred to the number and/or age groups of children at home. Beginning with the 1991 Census, the reference is to never-married sons and/or daughters; these persons may be of any age. This change in terminology does not affect historical comparability. In the 1971 Census, figures were published according to the number of children under 25 years of age only. * 1971, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Census Family Household Composition ----------------------------------- Refers to the classification of census families according to the presence and number of additional persons in the household. Additional persons refers to any household member who is not a member of the census family being considered. These additional persons may be either members of another census family or non-family persons. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 Reported for: Census families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: This variable is designed to provide data on household composition from the census family perspective. Census Family Living Arrangements --------------------------------- Refers to the classification of persons in terms of whether they are members of a family household or a non-family household,* and whether they are family or non-family persons.* Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 Reported for: Population in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: This variable is designed to provide data on household living arrangements at the population level. It may be classified as follows: Total persons in private households - Total persons in family households - Spouses, common-law partners or lone parents - Never-married sons and/or daughters in families of now-married couples - Never-married sons and/or daughters in families of common-law couples - Never-married sons and/or daughters in lone-parent families - Non-family persons - Living with relatives only - Living with relatives and other persons - Living with non-relatives only** - Total persons in non-family households - Living with relatives only - Living with non-relatives only - Living with relatives and other persons - Living alone * See also Household Type and Census Family Status. ** Since this is a family household, at least two of these non-relatives must constitute a census family. Census Family Status -------------------- Refers to the classification of the population according to whether or not they are members of a census family. Family persons refers to household members who belong to a census family. They, in turn, are further classified as follows: Spouses refers to persons of opposite sex who are legally married to each other and living in the same dwelling. Common-law partners are two persons of opposite sex who are not legally married to each other but live together as husband and wife in the same dwelling. Lone parent refers to a mother or a father, with no spouse or common-law partner present, living in a dwelling with one or more never-married sons and/or daughters. Never-married sons and/or daughters refers to blood, step or adopted sons and daughters who have never married (regardless of age) and are living in the same dwelling as their parent(s). Sons and daughters who are currently or were previously married, or who are living common-law, are not considered to be members of their parent(s)' census family even if they are living in the same dwelling. In addition, those never-married sons and daughters who do not live in the same dwelling as their parent(s) are not considered members of their parent(s)' census family. Non-family persons refers to household members who do not belong to a census family. They may be related to Person 1, the household reference person (e.g., Person 1's divorced brother, brother-in-law, cousin, grandparent), or unrelated (e.g., lodger, room-mate, employee). A person living alone is always a non-family person. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976,* 1971** Reported for: Population in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Male spouse, male common-law partner; female spouse, female common-law partner; male lone parent; female lone parent; never-married son, never-married daughter; non-family person Remarks: Common-law partners may be of any marital status other than "legally married and not separated". In censuses prior to 1991, the term child (children) was used in reference to never-married sons and/or daughters, regardless of age. * As of the 1976 Census, unrelated wards, foster and guardianship children, whether or not pay is received, are classified and tabulated as lodgers rather than as children in families (as had been the previous census practice), in order to adhere more closely to the literal definition and meaning of children (i.e. sons and daughters) in census families. ** The published data for census family status for 1971, 1976, 1981 and 1986 are comparable, although census family status as defined in the Dictionary of the 1971 Census terms corresponds to the current definition of census family structure. In 1971, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Census Family Structure ----------------------- Refers to the classification of census families into families of now-married couples (with or without never-married sons or daughters of either or both spouses), families of common-law couples (with or without never-married sons or daughters of either or both partners) and lone-parent families by sex of parent. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971 Reported for: Census families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: In censuses prior to 1991, the term "husband-wife families" covered both the families of now-married couples and those of common-law couples in publications. Data on common-law couples have only been available since 1981. Census Family Type ------------------ Refers to the classification of census families according to whether or not any family member is responsible for household payments, i.e. rent, or mortgage, or taxes, or electricity. Primary maintaining family refers to the census family of which the primary household maintainer (i.e. the first person identified as being responsible for household payments) is a member. In cases where no person in the household is responsible for such payments, no primary maintaining family is identified although Person 1 is considered as the household maintainer for classification purposes. In the context of census family type, the family of this Person 1 is considered as a non-maintaining family. Other maintaining family refers to any census family which contains a household maintainer other than the primary household maintainer. Non-maintaining family refers to a census family which does not contain any person who is responsible for household payments. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981,* 1976, 1971 Reported for: Census families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) In addition to the information used to determine families, this concept uses responses to Question H1. Responses: Not applicable Remarks: Due to changes in questionnaire design and data capture for Question H1, the method of identifying the primary household maintainer in the 1996 Census differs slightly from that of 1991. These changes may affect families and households where two or more persons contribute toward shelter expenses. As a result, the characteristics of the primary maintaining families may not be strictly comparable to those released in the 1991 Census. For further information, see the 1996 Technical Report on Families. A major conceptual modification was introduced for the household maintainer variable for the 1991 Census: for the first time, respondents in private households were able to identify more than one person as responsible for the shelter expenses. The maximum allowable number is six. In the 1986 and 1981 Censuses, the "family type" classification identified primary and secondary families. The primary maintaining family of the 1991 Census was equivalent to the primary families of 1986 and 1981. Other maintaining and non-maintaining families combined were equivalent of the secondary families in 1986 and 1981. The classification into primary maintaining, other maintaining and non-maintaining families applies to family persons only. * In 1981, the criterion for determining family type was changed. A new question was added to the census questionnaire to determine a person responsible for paying the rent, or mortgage, or taxes, or electricity, and was used to identify primary and secondary families. For 1986, this criterion was maintained. In previous censuses, the primary family was defined as the family of the head of the household. Economic Family --------------- Refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971* Reported for: Population in private households and Hutterite collective households Question Nos.: This concept is based on information provided in response to Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) It is a derived variable. Responses: Not applicable Remarks: The economic family concept requires only that family members be related by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption. By contrast, the census family concept requires that family members be either male or female spouse, male or female common-law partner or never-married son or daughter with a parent present. The concept of economic family may therefore refer to a larger group of persons than does the census family concept. For example: a widowed mother living with her married son and daughter-in-law would be treated as a non-family person under the definition of a census family. That same person would, however, be counted as a member of an economic family along with her son and daughter-in-law. Two or more related families living together also constitute one economic family as, for example, a man and his wife living with their married son and daughter-in-law. Two or more brothers or sisters living together, apart from their parents, will form an economic family, but not a census family since they do not meet the requirements for the latter. All census family persons are economic family persons. The economic family and its associated classifications and variables are derived based on responses to the questions on relationship to Person 1, sex, date of birth and marital status. In addition, consideration is given to the order in which household members are listed on the questionnaire and to responses to a question on common-law status, which was new for the 1991 Census. * In 1971, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Economic Family Status ---------------------- Refers to the classification of population according to whether or not they are members of an economic family. Economic family persons refers to two or more household members who are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption and thereby constitute an economic family. Unattached individuals refers to household members who are not members of an economic family. A person living alone is always an unattached individual. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971* Reported for: Population in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: * In 1971, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Economic Family Structure ------------------------- Refers to the classification of economic families into those of now-married couples, common-law couples and other economic families. Economic families of now-married couples are those in which one of two spouses is the economic family reference person. Economic families of common-law couples are those in which one of two common-law partners is the economic family reference person. Other economic families are of two kinds: those in which either a male or female lone parent is the economic family reference person, or those in which a non-census family person is the economic family reference person. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986,* 1981* Reported for: Economic families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) Responses: Not applicable Remarks: While there is only one household reference person per household, there may be more than one economic family in a household and each one will contain an economic family reference person. * In the 1986 and 1981 Censuses, economic families of now-married couples and economic families of common-law couples together constituted husband-wife economic families. Economic Family Type -------------------- Refers to the classification of economic families according to whether or not any family member is responsible for household payments, i.e. rent, or mortgage, or taxes, or electricity. Primary maintaining economic family refers to the economic family of which the primary household maintainer (i.e. the first person identified as being responsible for household payments) is a member. Other maintaining economic family refers to any economic family which contains a household maintainer other than the primary household maintainer. Non-maintaining economic family refers to any economic family which does not contain any person who is responsible for household payments. Censuses: 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981,* 1976, 1971** Reported for: Economic families in private households Question Nos.: Derived variable: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (Question 6 was first asked in the 1991 Census.) In addition to the information used to determine families, this concept uses responses to Question H1. Responses: Not applicable Remarks: Due to changes in questionnaire design and data capture for Question H1, the method of identifying the primary household maintainer in the 1996 Census differs slightly from that of 1991. These changes may affect families and households where two or more persons contribute towards shelter expenses. As a result, the characteristics of the primary maintaining families may not be strictly comparable to those released in the 1991 Census. For further information, see the 1996 Technical Report for Families. See also "Remarks" under Census Family Type. A major conceptual modification was introduced for the household maintainer for the 1991 Census: for the first time, respondents in private households were able to identify more than one person as responsible for the shelter expenses. The maximum allowable number is six. Certain family households will not have a primary maintaining family, for example, when the primary household maintainer is an unattached individual, or resides elsewhere. Accordingly, any economic family in such a household will be classified as an other maintaining or non-maintaining economic family. In previous censuses, the primary economic family was defined as the economic family of the head of the household. While we anticipate that in the majority of cases the person responsible for household payments will also be considered as the household reference person (Person 1), this will not always be the case. * In 1981, the criterion for determining family type was changed. A new question was added to the census questionnaire to determine a person responsible for paying the rent, or mortgage, or taxes, or electricity, and was used to identify primary and secondary economic families. For 1986, this criterion was maintained. ** In 1971, published family statistics included families living in private households (including those enumerated outside Canada) and all collective households. Income: Average Income of Census Families and Non-family Persons ---------------------------------------------------------------- 15 Years of Age and Over ------------------------ Average census family income refers to the weighted mean total income of census families in 1995. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Census families and non-family persons 15 years of age and over Question No.: Derived statistic Responses: Dollar value Remarks: Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of families (e.g., husband-wife families with working wives) by the number of families in that group, whether or not they reported income. Similarly, the average income of a group of non-family persons is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of the specified group by the number of all non-family persons 15 years of age and over in the group, whether or not they reported income. Average and median incomes of census families and non-family persons and the corresponding standard errors for average income are normally calculated for all units in the specified group, whether or not they reported income. Income: Average Income of Economic Families and Unattached ---------------------------------------------------------- Individuals 15 Years of Age and Over ------------------------------------ Average economic family income refers to the weighted mean total income of economic families in 1995. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over Question No.: Derived statistic Responses: Dollar value Remarks: Average income is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of a specified group of families (e.g., husband-wife families with working wives) by the number of families in that group, whether or not they reported income. Similarly, the average income of a group of unattached individuals is calculated from unrounded data by dividing the aggregate income of the specified group by the number of all unattached individuals 15 years of age and over in the group, whether or not they reported income. See "Remarks" under Income: Average Income of Census Families and Non-family Persons 15 Years of Age and Over for the method of calculation used to derive this statistic. Income: Census Family Total Income ---------------------------------- The total income of a census family is the sum of the total incomes of all members of that family. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Census families in private households Question No.: Derived variable Responses: Positive or negative dollar value or nil Remarks: For details on the components of total income and on the intercensal comparability of the concept, reference period, coverage and methodology for income data, see "Remarks" under Income: Total Income. Income: Economic Family Total Income ------------------------------------ The total income of an economic family is the sum of the total incomes of all members of that family. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Economic families in private households Question No.: Derived variable Responses: Positive or negative dollar value or nil Remarks: For details on the components of total income and on the intercensal comparability of the concept, reference period, coverage and methodology for income data, "Remarks" under Income: Total Income. Income: Incidence of Low Income ------------------------------- The incidence of low income is the proportion or percentage of economic families or unattached individuals in a given classification below the low income cut-offs. These incidence rates are calculated from unrounded estimates of economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample) Reported for: Economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over in private households Question No.: Derived statistic Responses: Percentage values Remarks: (1) Incidence of low income can also be derived for census families, non-family persons and the population in private households. See Low Income Statistics for Census Families and Households, Staff Report No. 1991-1, Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division, Statistics Canada. (2) Incidence rates are calculated from estimates of families and unattached individuals prior to rounding. (3) See also Income: Low Income Cut-offs (LICOs) and Income: Income Status. (4) This statistic is not resident on the database. Income: Income Status --------------------- Refers to the position of an economic family or an unattached individual 15 years of age and over in relation to Statistics Canada's low income cut-offs (LICOs). Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample) Reported for: Economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over in private households Question No.: Derived variable Responses: ABOVELINE; BELOWLINE; NOTAPPCBL Remarks: (1) The three derived code values indicate the following for each economic family/unattached individual. ABOVELINE: The total income of the economic family or unattached individual was not below the low income cut-off point for it. BELOWLINE: The total income of the economic family or unattached individual was below the low income cut-off point for it. NOTAPPCBL: The low income concept does not apply to the economic family or unattached individual. (2) For the purposes of low income statistics, economic families and unattached individuals in the Yukon and Northwest Territories and on Indian reserves were excluded. The low income cut-offs are based on certain expenditure-income patterns which are not available from survey data for the entire population. (3) Although this variable is derived for economic families and unattached individuals, it can be applied to census families, non-family persons and the population in private households. See Low Income Statistics for Census Families and Households, Staff Report No. 1991-1, Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division, Statistics Canada. (4) See also Income: Incidence of Low Income and Income: Low Income Cut-offs (LICOs). Income: Low Income Cut-offs (LICOs) ----------------------------------- Measures of low income known as low income cut-offs (LICOs) were first introduced in Canada in 1968 based on 1961 Census income data and 1959 family expenditure patterns. At that time, expenditure patterns indicated that Canadian families spent about 50% of their income on food, shelter and clothing. It was arbitrarily estimated that families spending 70% or more of their income on these basic necessities would be in "straitened" circumstances. With this assumption, low income cut-off points were set for five different sizes of families. Subsequent to these initial cut-offs, revised low income cut-offs were established based on national family expenditure data from 1969, 1978, 1986 and 1992. These data indicated that Canadian families spent, on average, 42% in 1969, 38.5% in 1978, 36.2% in 1986 and 34.7% in 1992 of their income on basic necessities. By adding the original difference of 20 percentage points to the basic level of expenditure on necessities, new low income cut-offs were set at income levels differentiated by family size and degree of urbanization. Since then, these cut-offs have been updated yearly by changes in the consumer price index. The following is the 1995 matrix of low income cut-offs: Low Income Cut-offs for Economic Families and Unattached Individuals, 1995 Size of area of residence 500,000 100,000 30,000 Small Rural Family or to to urban (farm and size more 499,999 99,999 regions non farm) 1 16,874 14,473 14,372 13,373 11,661 2 21,092 18,091 17,965 16,716 14,576 3 26,232 22,500 22,343 20,790 18,129 4 31,753 27,235 27,046 25,167 21,944 5 35,494 30,445 30,233 28,132 24,530 6 39,236 33,654 33,420 31,096 27,116 7+ 42,978 36,864 36,607 34,061 29,702 Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample) Reported for: Economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over in private households Question Nos.: Not applicable Responses: Not applicable Remarks: See also Income: Income Status and Income: Incidence of Low Income. Income: Median Income of Census Families and Non-family Persons 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Years of Age and Over --------------------- The median income of a specified group of census families or non-family persons 15 years of age and over is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e. the incomes of the first half of the families or non-family persons are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Census families and non-family persons 15 years of age and over Question No.: Derived statistic Responses: Dollar value Remarks: (1) Average and median incomes of census families and non-family persons and the corresponding standard errors for average income are normally calculated for all units in the specified group, whether or not they reported income. Income: Median Income of Economic Families and Unattached --------------------------------------------------------- Individuals 15 Years of Age and Over ------------------------------------ The median income of a specified group of economic families or unattached individuals 15 years of age and over is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e. the incomes of the first half of the families or unattached individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Censuses: 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991 (1/5 sample), 1986 (1/5 sample), 1981 (1/5 sample), 1971 (1/3 sample), 1961 (1/5 sample) Reported for: Economic families and unattached individuals 15 years of age and over Question No.: Derived statistic Responses: Dollar value Remarks: See "Remarks" under Income: Median Income of Census Families and Non-family Persons 15 Years of Age and Over for the method of calculation used to derive this statistic.