FAMSIZE is a 2-digit numeric variable.

Description

FAMSIZE counts the number of own family members residing with each individual, including the person her/himself. Persons not living with others related to them by blood, marriage, or adoption are coded 1.

Note that FAMSIZE is an IPUMS-derived variable using IPUMS-derived family interrelationships, which will not necessarily correspond to the Census Bureau's family definitions. See FTYPE, FAMKIND, and FAMREL for variables that correspond to Census family units. IPUMS does not currently offer a corresponding variable for the size of the Census family unit, but variables necessitating this information such as POVERTY already take the Census family unit size into account.

An Introduction to the Family Interrelationship Variables can be found on IPUMS-USA. On this page you'll find information on how IPUMS family interrelationship variables are constructed, common uses of these variables, and specific examples of how these variables can be used efficiently.

Comparability

The comparability of this variable is affected by the information available on family relationships. FAMSIZE is based on the information contained in RELATE (Relationship to household head), MOMLOC, POPLOC, and SPLOC. See MOMRULE, POPRULE, SPRULE, MOMLOC, POPLOC, and SPLOC for discussion of variations across years in these variables.

Comparability with IPUMS-USA

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables