Latest release

Family household composition (dwelling) (HCFMD)

Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable counts the types of families within family households at the dwelling level. In multiple family households, only the family composition of the primary family is recorded.

Scope

Occupied private dwellings

Categories

Download
CodeCategory

1

One family household

11

One family household: couple family with no children

12

One family household: couple family with children

13

One family household: one parent family

14

One family household: other family

2

Multiple family household

21

Two family household: couple family with no children

22

Two family household: couple family with children

23

Two family household: one parent family

24

Two family household: other family

25

Three or more family household: couple family with no children

26

Three or more family household: couple family with children

27

Three or more family household: one parent family

28

Three or more family household: other family

3

Other household

31

Lone person household

32

Group household

33

Visitors only household

34

Other non-classifiable household

Not applicable

@@

Not applicable

Number of categories:

  • One digit level: 3
  • Two digit level: 17

Not applicable (@@) category comprises:

  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?
What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?

Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder.

More information

Husband or wife of Person 1

De facto partner of Person 1

Child of Person 1

Stepchild of Person 1

Brother or sister of Person 1

Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1

Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?

More information

What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?

Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder.

More information

If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

For each person away, complete the following questions:

The Census asks a number of questions for usual residents who were temporarily absent on Census night, these are known as persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions. The PTA questions below are used to derive this variable.

List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling.
List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling.

Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night.

People away

List Person Away 1 - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away.

Add another person away

Example

Family household composition (dwelling) example - Person 4 Surname

Example

List the people who were away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021 but usually live in this dwelling.

Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they were in Australia on Census night.

People away

Person 4 Surname - Any person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away.

Add another person away
What is Person 4's date of birth?
What is Person 4's date of birth?

If date of birth is not known, please give age.

More information

Date of birth

Day Month Year

OR

Age

More information

Additional information realting to the question on: What is Person 4's date of birth?

More information

What is Person 4's date of birth?

If date of birth is not known, please give age.

More information

It is important to note:
• Date of birth is the date that the person was born.
• Age is required only if the person's date of birth is not known. Please report age at Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021.

If the person is less than one year old and their date of birth is not known, enter '0' in the age box.
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder.

More information

Husband or wife of Person 1

De facto partner of Person 1

Child of both Person 1 and Person 2

Child of Person 1 only

Child of Person 2 only

Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1

Other relationship to Person 1 (please specify)

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

More information

What is Person 4's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grand-daughter, Uncle, Boarder.

More information

If more than one response applies, select the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.

How this variable is created

This variable uses information collected from the Relationship in household and the Persons temporarily absent questions on the Census form.

Family and Household structures are identified during Census data processing and are created around a family or household reference person. This variable is derived from the Family composition (FMCF) and Household composition (HHCD) variables.

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 2011.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Across the community, a wide variety of living arrangements exist with complex family structures. The quality of family data in the Census is partly dependent on people’s ability to describe these relationships within the constraints of the generalised questionnaire format required by a Census. Reporting relationships in respect of 'Person 1' only, can make it difficult to establish all the relationships which exist in a household, or to identify whether more than one family is living in the dwelling.

A maximum of three families can be coded to a household. Lone person households can contain visitors. Visitor only households can contain overseas visitors.

The 'Other not classifiable' category consists mainly of occupied dwellings where a form was not received. It also includes households:

  • Which the ABS Field Officer determined were occupied on Census night but where the ABS Field Officer could not make contact
  • That contained only persons aged under 15 years
  • Which could not be classified elsewhere in this classification because there was insufficient information on the Census form

Care should be taken when comparing this variable to other family data from within the ABS or external organisations or agencies. The definition of a family can differ between different statistical collections and may not match Census definitions.

Related variables and glossary terms

  • Family composition (FMCF)
  • Household composition (HHCD)
  • Family household composition (family) (HCFMF)
  • Relationship in household (RLHP)

Other ABS sources