Child type (gender of parent) (including grandchildren) (CGGP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2026

Definition

This variable records the different types of children in a family, including grandchildren. When a step parent and child relationship is identified, it also shows the gender of the step parent. It uses information from the new 2026 Census gender question (GENP). A separate variable, child type (sex recorded at birth of parent) (including grandchildren) (CTGP) will continue to be produced using responses to the sex recorded at birth (SEXP) question.  

This variable is different from the standard child type (gender of parent) (CGPP) variable, as it contains an additional category, ‘Grandchild’. The ‘Grandchild’ category includes grandchildren of any age who don’t live with a natural, adopted, step, or foster parent. This is different from the CTGP variable, which only includes grandchildren aged under 15 years in the 'Otherwise related child (under 15)' category.  

This variable can only be used with related grandparent and grandchildren variables: 

It cannot be used with standard family variables.

Scope

All children and grandchildren present in family households on Census night

Categories

CodeCategory
1Natural or adopted child of both parents or lone parent 
2Step child of parent, gender man 
3Step child of parent, gender woman
4Step child of parent, gender non-binary or another gender term 
5Step child of parent, gender inadequately described*
6Foster child, so stated 
7Grandchild 
8Otherwise related child (under 15 years) 
9Unrelated child (under 15 years) 
@Not applicable 
VOverseas visitor 

* Includes parents with gender not stated, ‘Prefer not to answer’ and aged under 16 years who weren’t asked the gender question. 

Number of categories: 11 

Not applicable (@) category comprises:  

  • husbands, wives, spouses, partners, lone parents, other related individuals, non-family members, or visitors (from within Australia) in family households 
  • persons in non-family households 
  • persons in non-classifiable households  
  • persons in non-private dwellings  
  • persons in migratory, offshore and shipping SA1s 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.   

What is the person’s date of birth?

What is the person’s gender?

What is the person's relationship to person 1/person 2?

Is the person attending a school or any other education institution?

For each person away, please complete the following questions:

How this variable is created

This variable is created using responses to the relationship in household, age, attendance at an educational institution and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. It is derived from the relationship in household (including grandchildren) (RLGP) variable. 

A person is classified as a grandchild, regardless of age, if they are coded as one of the following RLGP categories: 

  • 34 Grandchild under 15 years 
  • 44 Dependent full-time student grandchild (15-24 years)
  • 54 Non‑dependent grandchild 15 years and over

Child type (including grandchildren) (CGGP) is different from the standard child type (CGPP) variable.

History and changes

This is a new variable for the 2026 Census. 

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