Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person

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

Definition

Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner indicates whether the sex at birth of both members of a married or common-law couple is the same or different.

Person refers to an individual and is the unit of analysis for most social statistics programs.

Derivation

'Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person' is derived from the responses to questions about the relationships among the people who live in the household and about the sex at birth of each household member.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

There are no relevant internationally recognized standards.

Classifications

Additional information

'Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person' only applies to persons whose type of union is 'married couple or common-law couple' or, alternatively stated, whose census family status is 'married spouse' or 'common-law partner'.

Relation to previous version

  • Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person July 31, 2026 to current

    In French, the concept "Conjoint marié ou de fait de sexe opposé ou de même sexe" has been renamed "Conjointe ou conjoint marié ou de fait de sexe opposé ou de même sexe." The definition of the concept as well as the category names and definitions in the French version of the classification have been modified.

  • Opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person September 24, 2021 to July 30, 2026

    The name and definition of the concept 'opposite- or same-sex married spouse or common-law partner' have been modified.

  • Opposite/same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person November 16, 2015 to September 23, 2021

    This is an update of 'Opposite/same-sex spouse or partner of person'. The concept has been renamed "Opposite/same-sex married spouse or common-law partner".

  • Opposite/same-sex spouse or partner of person October 22, 2007 to November 15, 2015

    This standard was replaced by the 'Opposite/same-sex married spouse or common-law partner of person' as of November 16, 2015.

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