Count of all children in family (CACF)

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

Definition

This variable counts the total number of dependent and non-dependent children in the family. It includes children who were temporarily absent from the household on Census night. 

A dependent child is a person who is either a child under 15 years of age, or a dependent full-time student aged 15 to 24 years.  

A non-dependent child 15 years and over refers to a natural, adopted, step or foster child of a couple or lone parent usually resident in the household. They are aged 15 years and over and not a full-time student aged 15 to 24 years. They also have no identified partner or child of their own usually resident in the household.

Scope

Families with children in family households 

Categories

Code Category 
1 One child in family 
2 Two children in family 
3 Three children in family 
4 Four children in family 
5 Five children in family 
6 Six children in family 
7 Seven children in family 
8 Eight or more children in family 
@ Not applicable 

Number of categories: 9 

Not applicable (@) category comprises of: 

  • couples in families with no children 
  • other families 
  • non-family households 
  • non-classifiable households 
  • unoccupied private dwellings 
  • non-private dwellings 
  • migratory, offshore and shipping SA1s 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s date of birth and age?

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

Is the person attending a school or other education institution?

For each person away, complete the following questions:

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from the Census questions on relationship in household, age, educational attendance, and persons temporarily absent (PTA).  

Children present in the household are counted if they are part of the family and are classified as one of the following relationship in household (RLHP) categories: 

  • 'Child under 15' (categories 31 to 36) 
  • 'Dependent full-time student (15-24 years)' (categories 41 to 43) 
  • 'Non‑dependent child 15 years and over' (categories 51 to 53)

Children who were temporarily absent on Census night are counted using PTA responses, which are first classified by age and student status and then counted in this variable. Counts of temporarily absent children can be found using the following variables: 

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 2011.  

In 2026, new categories were introduced, increasing the highest category from ‘Six or more children in family’ to ‘Eight or more children in family’. 

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