Presence of children

Part A - Short definition:

Refers to the number of children in private households by age groups.

Part B - Detailed definition:

Refers to the number of children in private households by age groups. To be included, children must live in the same household as the family, without a married spouse, common-law partner or one or more of their children living in the same household. In a census family, they may be children by birth, marriage or adoption. In an economic family, foster children are also included.

Census years:

2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991,^{Footnote 1} 1986,^{Footnote 1} 1981^{Footnote 1}

Reported for:

Population 15 years of age and over in private households

Question number(s):

Derived variable

Responses:

Not applicable

Remarks:

'Children' refers to blood, step or adopted sons and daughters (regardless of age) who are living in the same dwelling as their parent(s), as well as to grandchildren in households where there are no parents present. Sons and daughters who are living with their married spouse or common-law partner, or with one or more of their own sons and/or daughters, are not considered to be members of the census family of their parent(s), even if they are living in the same dwelling. In addition, sons and daughters who do not live in the same dwelling as their parent(s) are not considered members of the census family of their parent(s).

As of the 2001 Census, several changes were made to the census family concepts. For additional information, see the Census family composition and Census family status definitions in the family universe.

Historically comparable data on presence of children and labour force activity dating back to the 1971 Census are available for females 15 years and over in private households. Similar data are available for males dating back to 1996.