Relationship between families (FRLF)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
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Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable describes the relationship between families within a household. The variable Family number (FNOF) is required to identify the primary, second or third family counted within the household.

The relationship described is between the primary family and the second or third family. For example, in a household there is a primary couple family with children and a second couple family. The second family consists of the parents of the reference person in the primary family. This second family would be identified as ‘Mother’s/father’s family'.

Scope

Two or three family households

Categories

CodeCategory
1Mother's/father's family
2Grandparent's family
3Son's/daughter's family
4Grandchild's family
5Brother's/sister's family
6Other related family
7Unrelated family
@Not applicable

Number of categories: 8

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Primary families in multi-family households
  • One family households
  • Non-family/Non-classifiable households
  • Unoccupied private dwellings
  • Non-private dwellings
  • Migratory, off-shore and shipping SA1s

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s relationship to Person 1/Person 2?

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from the Relationship in household question on the Census form. This question is used to determine the relationships people have with others in a multi-family household. Persons temporarily absent are also taken into consideration.

History and changes

This variable was first introduced in 1991.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

Relationship between families categories of 'Mother's/father's family' (FRLF category 1) and 'Son's/daughter's family' (FRLF category 3) are complementary. To find the number of families living with a family that contains a parent or child of one of the family members, users should consider both categories combined.

Users are faced with a similar situation when looking at 'Grandparent's families' and 'Grandchild families' (FRLF categories 2 and 4). Any one of these categories used in isolation will not give a full count of family pairs bound by a specified relationship.

During data processing the relationships identified are used to derive the relationship of each family to the household’s ‘primary family’. A 'primary family' is an ABS term that is used to aid coding of household relationships, and should not be misinterpreted as signifying the family that owns the house, or the 'main' family for any reason other than ABS family and household coding purposes.

This variable does not have a non-response rate as it is created during Census processing by using responses from more than one question on the Census form.

Related variables and glossary terms

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