Family size (for economic family)

Status: This standard was approved as a departmental standard on July 31, 2026.

Definition

Family size refers to the number of persons in the family.

Economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same household and are related to each other through biological, couple, adoptive or foster relationships.

Examples of an economic family include two co-resident census families who are related to one another, co-resident siblings who are not members of a census family, or a niece or nephew living with their aunt or uncle.

All members of a given census family belong to the same economic family, as well as any other household members who are related to at least one member of the census family. In households with no census families present, all related persons in the household form an economic family.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

There are no relevant internationally recognized standards.

Classifications

Relation to previous version

  • Family size (for economic family) July 31, 2026 to current

    The definition of the statistical unit "economic family" has been modified, as has the name of the classification.

  • Family size (for economic family) May 26, 2021 to July 30, 2026

    The definition of the statistical unit has been modified.

  • Family size of economic family November 16, 2015 to May 25, 2021

    This is an update to 'Size of economic family'. The concept has been renamed "Family size" and its definition has been simplified.

  • Size of economic family October 22, 2007 to November 15, 2015

    This standard was replaced by the 'Family size of economic family' as of November 16, 2015.

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