Opposite- or same-sex status of couple

Status: This standard was approved as a departmental standard on July 31, 2026.

Definition

Opposite- or same-sex status refers to whether the members of a couple are of the opposite sex or the same sex.

Couple refers to two people who usually reside in the same dwelling and are married to each other or living in a common-law relationship.

Derivation

Since 2021, 'Opposite- or same-sex status of couple ' is derived from the responses to questions about the relationships among the people who live in the household and about the sex at birth of each household member.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

There are no relevant internationally recognized standards.

Classifications

Relation to previous version

  • Opposite- or same-sex status of couple July 31, 2026 to current

    The statistical unit "couple family" was replaced with the statistical unit "couple." The definitions of the concept and of the classification categories have been modified, but the meaning is unchanged.

  • Opposite- or same-sex status of couple family September 24, 2021 to July 30, 2026

    The name and definition of the concept 'opposite- or same-sex status' and the definition of the statistical unit 'couple family' have been modified.

  • Opposite/same-sex status of couple family October 22, 2007 to September 23, 2021

    This was the departmental standard from October 22, 2007 to September 23, 2021.

Date modified: