About this tabulation

General information

Catalogue number :	97F0005XCB2001002
Release date :	October 22, 2002
Topic :	Families and Household Living Arrangements
Data dimensions :	Geography (Geographic Index) Census Years (5) Sex (3) Age Groups (12B) Family Structure (7A)

Note

Special Note: Nunavut (1)

A new territory called Nunavut came into effect on April 1, 1999. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Changes to family concepts for the 2001 Census

For the 1996 Census, the definition of census family was as follows:

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.

This reflected a concept that had not changed since 1976. However, during the planning for the 2001 Census, it was decided that some changes were required, due to the following factors: (1) changes to federal and provincial legislation putting same-sex couples on an equal footing with opposite-sex common-law couples (most notably Bill C-23, the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, which was passed by the Government of Canada in 2000); (2) recommendations by the United Nations as part of a process of standardization of concepts for the 2000-2001 round of censuses in member countries; and (3) a significant number of persons less than 15 years of age classified as 'non-family persons' in previous censuses.

As a result, the census family concept for the 2001 Census reflects the following changes:

· Two persons living in a same-sex common-law relationship, along with any of their children residing in the household, are considered a census family.

· Children in a census family can have been previously married (as long as they are not currently living with a spouse or common-law partner). Previously, they had to be 'never-married'.

· A grandchild living in a three-generation household where the parent (middle generation) is never-married is, contrary to previous censuses, now considered as a child in the census family of his or her parent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, the census family usually consisted of the two older generations.

· A grandchild of another household member, where a middle-generation parent is not present, is now considered as a child in the census family of his or her grandparent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, such a grandchild would not be considered as a member of a census family.

The last three changes listed (definition of 'child'), together, result in a 1.5% increase in the total number of census families, and in a 10.1% increase in the number of lone-parent families. The inclusion of same-sex couples results in a 0.4% increase in the number of census families at the national level.

The term 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. This definition has not changed for 2001. The only effect of conceptual changes on economic families is that same-sex partners are now considered to be common-law partners. Thus they are considered related and members of the same economic family.

Outside of the 'family universe', there are two related concepts that are affected by the change in the census family definition: common-law status and household type. Prior to 2001, two people living together as husband and wife without being legally married to each other were considered to be living common-law. For 2001, this has been expanded to include persons living in a same-sex partnership. The concept of household type refers to the basic division of private households into family and non-family households. Since it is based on the census family concept, the household type (whether a household is 'family' or 'non-family') is affected by the change. Also, the detailed classification of this variable is affected, since married couples and common-law couples were broken down into those 'without never-married sons or daughters' and 'with never-married sons or daughters'. For 2001 this reads 'without children' and 'with children', with the attendant change in meaning.

For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Special Note: Private Household

Refers to a person or a group of persons (other than foreign residents) who occupy a private dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada. For additional information, please refer to the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue Number 92-378-XIE or 92-378-XPE.

Data table

Select data categories for this table

Geography Geographic index Canada Newfoundland and Labrador - Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador Prince Edward Island - Île-du-Prince-Édouard Nova Scotia - Nouvelle-Écosse New Brunswick - Nouveau-Brunswick Quebec - Québec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia - Colombie-Britannique Yukon Territory - Territoire du Yukon Northwest Territories - Territoires du Nord-Ouest Nunavut

Census Years (5) 2001 1996 1991 1986 1981

Sex (3) Total - Sex Male Female

This table details age groups , family structure and sex for children in census families in private households in Canada^{Footnote 1}

Age Groups (12B)	Family Structure (7A)
	Total - Family structure	Total couple families	Married couples	Common-law couplesFootnote 2	Total lone-parent familiesFootnote 3	Female parent	Male parent
Total - Age groups	9,582,615	7,579,255	6,666,195	913,060	2,003,360	1,650,250	353,110
Under 15 years	5,678,320	4,649,300	3,916,390	732,910	1,029,020	872,945	156,070
0-4 years	1,685,885	1,429,585	1,138,295	291,290	256,295	225,215	31,085
5-9 years	1,961,140	1,595,470	1,345,010	250,455	365,670	312,275	53,400
10-14 years	2,031,295	1,624,245	1,433,080	191,170	407,050	335,460	71,590
15-19 years	1,891,000	1,496,755	1,374,465	122,290	394,245	309,530	84,715
15-17 years	1,201,505	949,615	866,265	83,350	251,890	199,160	52,730
18 years	362,695	286,600	264,815	21,785	76,095	59,230	16,860
19 years	326,795	260,540	243,385	17,150	66,255	51,135	15,120
20-24 years	1,100,705	879,955	836,905	43,050	220,750	170,325	50,425
25-29 years	398,810	303,375	293,900	9,470	95,435	75,085	20,350
30 years and over	513,775	249,870	244,530	5,335	263,910	222,365	41,545

Source: Statistics Canada, 2001 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97F0005XCB2001002.

Map – Canada

Map is currently unavailable.

Download

Related data

• 2001 Census analysis series:
  Profile of Canadian Families and Households: Diversification Continues, 2001 Census