Count of dependent children in family (CDCF)

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

Definition

This variable counts the number of dependent children in a family. A dependent child is a child under 15 years, or a dependent student aged 15 to 24 years. It also includes dependent children who were temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census night. 

Scope

Couple and one parent families with children 

Categories

Code Category 
Couple family with:
00 No dependent children 
01 One dependent child 
02 Two dependent children 
03 Three dependent children 
04 Four dependent children 
05 Five dependent children 
06 Six dependent children 
07 Seven dependent children 
08 Eight or more dependent children 
One parent family with: 
09 No dependent children 
10 One dependent child 
11 Two dependent children 
12 Three dependent children 
13 Four dependent children 
14 Five dependent children 
15 Six dependent children 
16 Seven dependent children 
17 Eight or more dependent children 
Not applicable: 
@@ Not applicable 

Number of categories: 19

Not applicable (@@) category comprises:

  • couple 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 any other education institution?

For each person away, 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 counts the number of dependent children in couple families and one parent families. The family composition (FMCF) variable is used to identify whether a family is a couple family or a one parent family.

Dependent children present in the household on Census night are counted if they are part of the family and fall into one of the following relationship in household (RLHP) categories:

  • 'Child under 15 years' (categories 31 to 36)
  • 'Dependent full-time student (15-24 years)' (categories 41 to 43)

Dependent children who were temporarily absent on Census night are counted using:

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 2011. 

In 2026, new categories were added, increasing the highest categories from ‘Six or more dependent children’ to ‘Eight or more dependent children’.  

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