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Number of persons usually resident in dwelling (NPRD)

Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable counts the number of people who usually reside in an occupied private dwelling. It includes up to three residents who were temporarily absent from the household on Census Night.

Scope

Occupied private dwellings

Categories

CodeCategory
1One person
2Two persons
3Three persons
4Four persons
5Five persons
6Six persons
7Seven persons
8Eight or more persons
@Not applicable

Number of categories: 9

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Visitor only households
  • Other non-classifiable households
  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

Question(s) from the Census form

Were there any people away on the night of Tuesday 10 August who usually live in this dwelling?

Were there any people away on the night of Tuesday 10 August who usually live in this dwelling?
Who was away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021, but usually lives at 1 Smith Street?

'Usually lives' means the person has lived, or intends to live, at this address for a total of six months or more in 2021.

Select all that apply.

More information

People on holiday, including people who are overseas

People away for work, in hospital or away for another reason overnight or longer

People staying with relatives or friends

Students away at boarding school

Children in shared care arrangements staying elsewhere on Tuesday 10 August 2021

OR

No one away

More Information

Additional information relating to the question on: Were there any people away on the night of Tuesday 10 August who usually live in this dwelling?

More Information

Who was away on the night of Tuesday 10 August 2021, but usually lives at 1 Smith Street?

'Usually lives' means the person has lived, or intends to live, at this address for a total of six months or more in 2021.

Select all that apply.

More information

You will need to answer a few questions about the people away on Census night later in the form.

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.

Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away on Tuesday 10 August 2021
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

Number of persons usually resident in dwelling example - Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling, but was away on Tuesday 10 August 2021

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.

1 person away

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

Add another person away

How this variable is created

This variable is derived by counting the number of usual residents who were present in the household on Census Night plus the Count of people who were temporarily absent from household (CPAD).

CPAD allows for up to three people to be temporarily absent from the household on Census Night.

History and changes

This variable was first used during the 2011 Census.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Due to form limitations a maximum of three people can be reported and coded as temporarily absent from the dwelling. If more than three people are absent from the household, the additional people are unable to be included on the form.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form.

Related variables and glossary terms

Useful links