Couple indicator (gender) (CIGF)

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

Definition

This variable uses relationship information to identify whether a family is a same gender, opposite binary gender, or nonbinary gender couple family. It uses information from the new 2026 Census gender question (GENP). A separate variable, couple indicator (sex recorded at birth) (SSCF) will continue to be produced using responses to the sex recorded at birth (SEXP) question. 

Scope

Couple families 

Categories

Categories for couple indicator (gender) (CIGF)

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s gender?

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

How this variable is created

This variable uses responses from the relationship in household and gender questions on the Census form. 

Gender is captured automatically from mark box responses on the form. More information on the gender variable can be found at gender (GENP). 

Responses to the relationship in household question are used in family coding to identify people classified as a de facto partner or husband, wife, or partner, including those temporarily absent on Census night.

History and changes

This is a new variable for the 2026 Census. 

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