Household type

Modified on June 26, 2007

Part A - Plain language definition:

Category to which a person living alone or a group of persons occupying the same dwelling belong. There are two categories: non-family households and family households.

A non-family household consists either of one person living alone or of two or more persons who share a dwelling, but do not constitute a family.

Family households are divided into two subcategories: one-family households and multiple-family households.

A one-family household consists of a single family (e.g., a couple with or without children). A multiple-family household is made up of two or more families occupying the same dwelling.

Part B - Detailed definition:

Refers to the basic division of private households into family and non-family households. Family household refers to a household that contains at least one census family, that is, a married couple with or without children, or a couple living common-law with or without children, or a lone parent living with one or more children (lone-parent family). One-family household refers to a single census family (with or without other persons) that occupies a private dwelling. Multiple-family household refers to a household in which two or more census families (with or without additional persons) occupy the same private dwelling.

Non-family household refers to either one person living alone in a private dwelling or to a group of two or more people who share a private dwelling, but who do not constitute a census family.

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