Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Figure 2.3
Overview of the census family and economic family variables

Figure 2.3 provides an overview of the census family and economic family variables and the characteristics associated with each variable.

The census family variables and their characteristics are broken down as follows:

1. Child presence: number of children at home and age groups of children at home.
2. Census family status:
   • Census family persons:
     • married spouses
     • common‑law partners
     • parents in one‑parent families
     • never‑married or ever‑married sons or daughters
     • grandchildren
   • Persons not in census families
3. Census family structure: couple families (married or common‑law) and one‑parent families. Couple families are further categorized into those without children and those with children. Those with children can be two‑parent non‑stepfamilies or two‑parent stepfamilies that could be either simple stepfamilies or complex stepfamilies.

The economic family variables and their characteristics are broken down as follows:

1. Economic family status:
   • Economic family persons:
     • economic family reference person
     • other economic family members (foster children are included)
   • Persons not in economic families
2. Economic family structure: couple families, one‑parent families and other economic families (economic families in which the economic family reference person lives with other relatives but does not live with a married spouse, common‑law partner or children).

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021.