Count of persons temporarily absent from household (CPAD)

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

Definition

This variable counts the total number of people who were reported as temporarily absent from the household on Census night.

Scope

Family and group households 

Categories

CodeCategory
0No persons temporarily absent from household
1One person temporarily absent from household
2Two persons temporarily absent from household
3Three persons temporarily absent from household
4Four persons temporarily absent from household
5Five persons temporarily absent from household
6Six or more persons temporarily absent from household
@Not applicable

Number of categories: 8 

Not applicable (@) category comprises: 

  • lone person households 
  • visitor only households 
  • other 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

For each person away, complete the following questions:

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from response to the persons temporarily absent (PTA) question on the Census form.

History and changes

This question was first asked in the 1986 Census. 

In 2026, new categories were added, increasing the highest categories from ‘Three persons temporarily absent from household’ to ‘Six or more persons temporarily absent from household’.