Registered Marital Status (MSTP)
This variable records an individual's current status in regard to a registered marriage, i.e. whether he/she is widowed, divorced, separated, married or has never married. The partners in a registered marriage must be of the opposite sex as same-sex relationships cannot be registered as marriages in Australia. Registered Marital Status (MSTP) is coded from Question 6 and is imputed if no response is provided. The variable Imputation Flag for Registered Marital Status (IFMSTP) is used to indicate if a person's marital status has been imputed for the Census.
A question on registered marital status has been asked in all Australian censuses. In all censuses since 1986 this question provided responses for the categories:
- Never married;
- Married;
- Separated but not divorced;
- Divorced; and
- Widowed.
Marital status is applicable to people aged 15 years and over. Note that the category 'married' was called 'now married' in censuses prior to 1986.
See also Derivations and imputations, Marital status, Married registered, Social Marital Status (MDCP).
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