This variable shows the type of household in a dwelling. It identifies whether a family or multiple families are present in the household on Census night and whether other unrelated people are also living in the household.
Scope
Occupied private dwellings
Categories
Categories for household composition (HHCD)
1
One family household
11
One family household with only family members present
110
One family household with only family members present
12
One family household with non-family members present
120
One family household with non-family members present
2
Multiple family household
21
Two family household
211
Two family household with only family members present
212
Two family household with non-family members present
22
Three family household
221
Three family household with only family members present
222
Three family household with non-family members present
23
Four family household
231
Four family household with only family members present
232
Four family household with non-family members present
24
Five or more family household
241
Five or more family household with only family members present
242
Five or more family household with non-family members present
What is the person’s relationship to person 1/person 2?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person 2's relationship to Person 1?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grandchild, Aunt, Boarder.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: If more than one response applies, select only the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.
The response options are: Husband or wife or spouse of Person 1; De facto partner of Person 1; Child of Person 1; Stepchild of Person 1; Parent of Person 1; Brother or sister or sibling of Person 1; Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1; Other relationship to Person 1(specify), followed by a free text field.
For each person away, complete the following questions:
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: List the people who will be away on the night of Tuesday 11 August 2026 but usually live in this dwelling.
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Remember that people listed here will need to complete a Census form for where they will be in Australia on Census night.
There is a heading titled People away with an option to List Person Away 1 with text next to it that any person who usually lives in this dwelling but will be away.
There is a button underneath to add another person away.
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What is Person Away A's relationship to Person 1/Person 2?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Examples of other relationships: Son-in-law, Grandchild, Aunt, Boarder.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: If more than one response applies, select the option that shows the relationship that most closely applies.
The response options are: Husband or wife or spouse of Person 1; De facto partner of Person 1; Child of both Person 1 and Person 2; Child of Person 1 only; Child of Person 2 only; Unrelated flatmate or co-tenant of Person 1; Other relationship to Person 1(specify), followed by a free text field.
How this variable is created
This variable is derived from the relationship in household and persons temporarily absent (PTA) questions on the Census form. Household and family structures are identified during data processing and are based on a reference person, for more information see family/household reference person indicator (RPIP).
People listed as temporarily absent on Census night are included when deriving household composition. This helps identify some family types and distinguish between lone person and group households.
History and changes
This variable was first collected in the 2006 Census. Between 1986 and 2001, similar information was collected through the household type variable. Information on families was also collected before 1986, but those earlier variables had less detail than what is collected today.
In 2026, new categories were added, increasing the highest category from ‘Three or more family household’ to ‘Five or more family household’.
