Previous standard - age
Status
This standard was replaced by a new departmental standard on May 22, 2007.
Definition
In its simplest form variables related to age refer to the respondent and/or other members of the household or family. Some sources also include data on related variables such as: age at time of divorce, age at which first child left home, etc. These are generally identified as age-related variables.
Age refers to the age at last birthday as of a specified, well-defined reference date. Where possible, it is recommended that age be derived from date of birth in which year, month and day is reported. In some cases, for operational reasons, day may not be included. In some cases, particularly in proxy reporting where birth date may not be known, age may be reported directly rather than derived.
Age may also be shown for a number of life events such as age at marriage, age at birth of child(ren), age at immigration or age at death.
Related variables and associated classifications:
Age
Definition
Age refers to the age of a person at his or her last birthday.
Detailed classification:
Age Categories, Five-Year Age Groups
Age by Life Cycle Groupings
Definition
Age by life cycle groupings refers to the age of a person within general life cycle groupings, that is, whether he or she is a child, a youth, an adult or a senior. In this context, children are considered to be aged from 0 to 14, youth from 15 to 24, adults from 25 to 64 and seniors 65 and over.
Note: the terms child and children are used in two different ways. as noted above, on the basis of age, children are defined as being from 0 to 14 years. On the basis of relationship, however, children are defined as being related to a parent or parents in one of the following ways: they may be a birth (natural) child, an adopted child, a step child or a foster (guardianship) child.
Detailed classification:
Age Categories, Life Cycle Groupings
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