Sex of reference person of economic family

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

Definition

Sex of reference person refers to the sex of the family reference person. The family reference person is determined through procedures specific to each survey.

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

  • Sex of reference person of economic family July 31, 2026 to current

    The definition of the statistical unit "economic family" has been modified.

  • Sex of reference person of economic family November 16, 2015 to July 30, 2026

    This is an update to Sex of reference person of economic family. The classification of sex of reference person in a lone-parent family is no longer referenced in this standard. It is now found in a new standard, "Sex of reference person of lone-parent family."

  • Sex of reference person of economic family October 22, 2007 to November 15, 2015

    'Sex of reference person of economic family' is incorporated within the classification of the previous standard, Economic family structure. The current standards take a more simplified approach, presenting each classification dimension as a separate variable concept. This approach provides greater conceptual and definitional clarity while simultaneously allowing users more flexibility in constructing whatever more complex, multidimensional classifications meet their needs for data presentation.

  • Economic family structure July 15, 1998 to October 21, 2007

    This standard was replaced by the 'Sex of reference person of economic family' as of October 22, 2007.

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