Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Household

Definition

Household refers to a person or group of persons who occupy the same dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada or abroad. The dwelling may be either a collective dwelling or a private dwelling. The household may consist of a family group such as a census family, of two or more families sharing a dwelling, of a group of unrelated persons or of a person living alone. Household members who are temporarily absent on reference day are considered part of their usual household.

Statistical unit(s)

• Not applicable

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971, 1966 and 1961.

Reported for

Question number(s)

Responses

Remarks

For more information, refer to the Census Dictionary: Private household, Collective household, Household outside Canada and Usual place of residence. Unless otherwise specified, all data in census products are for private households only.

Related 2021 data products

• Household after-tax income group by household characteristics: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0056-01)
• Household low-income status by household type including multigenerational status of the household and census family structure: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0105-01)
• Household total income group by household characteristics: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0055-01)