Conjugal status of person 15 years or over

Status: This standard was replaced by the 'Conjugal status of couple' as of October 19, 2015.

Definition

Conjugal status refers to the nature of the relationship between the members of a couple. Specifically, it indicates whether the members of a couple are legally married to each other or whether they are living in a common-law relationship. When applied to a person, conjugal status refers to whether a person aged 15 or over is living with a person of the opposite or same sex as a spouse or common-law partner. When applied to a couple family, it refers to the nature of the relationship between the members of the couple in a census family or, in the case of an economic family, the nature of the relationship between the economic family reference person and his or her spouse or partner.

Person 15 years or over refers to an individual whose age is 15 years or over.

Derivation

'Conjugal status' of person is derived. It is obtained by combining information about the person's legal marital status and his or her common law status.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

This standard generally conforms to the recommendations for censuses contained in the United Nations' Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2, 2008. The Principles recognize that in some countries it will be necessary to take customary unions such as consensual unions into account. Living common-law is the form of consensual union found in Canada.

Classifications

Additional information

See:

Relation to previous version

  • Conjugal status of person 15 years or over October 20, 2008 to October 18, 2015

    The previous standard only included in Married (and not separated) and in Living common-law persons married to or living with a person of the opposite sex. This standard expands both definitions to include those married to or living with a person of the same sex.

  • Conjugal status July 18, 1998 to October 19, 2008
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