2001 Census of Population [Canada] Public Use Microdata File (PUMF): Families File

<p>The 2001 Census Public Use Microdata File (PUMF) on Families contains data based on a 2.7% sample of the population enumerated in the census. It provides information on the demographic, social and economic characteristics of the census families and non-family persons. This microdata file allows users to group and manipulate the data to suit their own requirements.</p> <p>The documentation (metadata) provided in the PUMF on families is divided into four chapters: Chapter I contains the record layout, an essential tool for using the file; Chapter II describes the variables included in the file; Chapters III and IV deal with the sampling method and data quality. There are two other public use microdata files: one on individuals and another on households and housing.</p> <p>For the 2001 Census, several changes were made to the census family concept:<br /> <ul> <li>Two persons living in a same-sex common-law relationship, along with any of their children residing in the household, will be considered a census family.</li> <li>Children in a census family can have been previously married (as long as they are not currently living with a spouse or common-law partner). Previously, they had to be "never-married".</li> <li>A grandchild living in a three-generation household where the parent (middle generation) is never-married will, contrary to previous censuses, now be considered as a child in the census family of his or her parent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, the census family usually consisted of the two older generations.</li> <li>A grandchild of another household member, where a middle-generation parent is not present, will now be considered as a child in the census family of his or her grandparent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, such a grandchild would not be considered as the member of a census family.</li> <li>For same-sex common-law couples, the records were handled as follows: regardless of the sex of each partner, the census family reference person was designated as the male common-law partner, and his or her partner was designated as the female common-law partner. The question on religion, which is asked every 10 years, was re-introduced in 2001. </li> <li>In 2001, two new questions were added: one on the birthplace of parents and the other on the language of work. A second part was also added to the question on home language. </li> <li>In view of the legal recognition of same-sex couples, the census definition of a common-law couple was changed to "two people of the opposite sex or of the same sex who live together as a couple but who are not legally married to each other".</li> <li>The question on fertility was not asked in the 2001 census.</li> </ul>