The census takes note of the number of persons residing in A family, and calculates the average size of the family. At times, the word ‘household’ is used for such a unit. Again, household has been variously defined in different censuses as (i) a physical structure—one roof—and all persons living under it; or (ii) a common hearth. Thus, if there are several hearths in the same physical structure, each hearth is counted as a separate household. This is the reason why the average size of the household in different censuses is not strictly comparable, and why the size does not indicate the social demography of the family.


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