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Age (AGEP)

Age has been collected in all Australian censuses. Age data, combined with sex data, is essential for the production of accurate population estimates based on the Census count.

For 2001 AGEP classifies each person's age into single year categories, from 0 to 99 years, and 100 years or more. The upper limit of the 1996 categories was 99 years or more. For infants aged less than one year, 0 years of age is recorded. When no age is reported, the ABS imputes an age using other information on the form and information on age distribution of the population.

Age is used during processing as a cross check with other variables; for example, the age of the respondent determines whether particular questions asked in the Census are applicable.

The following age constraints apply:

• if age is under five years, then State and SLA of usual residence five years ago (STEU5P, SLAU5P) and Usual address indicator 5 years ago (UAI5P) are not applicable;

• if age is less than one year, then State and SLA of usual residence one year ago and 5 years ago (STEU1P, SLAU1P, STEU5P, SLAU5P), and Usual address indicator 1 year ago and 5 years ago (UAI1P, UAI5P) are not applicable;

• age and Year of Arrival in Australia (YARP) must be logically consistent; and

• the household or family reference person must be aged 15 years or more.

• If age is under 15 years, then the following person variables are not applicable:

See also Derivations and imputations, Estimated Resident Population (ERP).