# the definition of variable nchild in CPS

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/the-definition-of-variable-nchild-in-cps/1865>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [August 7, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/the-definition-of-variable-nchild-in-cps/1865 "2017-08-07T20:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ianhety](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@Ianhety](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Ianhety)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/the-definition-of-variable-nchild-in-cps/1865/1 "2017-08-07T20:24:00Z")

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Hello, Could I ask a question about variable: nchild in CPS? In the description, I cannot find the detailed definition of how CPS calculates nchild for one household. Is there any detailed definition for it (such as by age, family relationship or others)?

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**Author:** ![JeffBloem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/jeffbloem/32/40_2.png) [@JeffBloem](https://forum.ipums.org/u/JeffBloem)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/the-definition-of-variable-nchild-in-cps/1865/2 "2017-08-07T21:39:00Z")

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Note that [NCHILD](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/NCHILD#description_section) is an IPUMS derived variable, rather than a variable that comes directly from the BLS. It uses the IPUMS derived [family interrelationship variables](https://cps.ipums.org/cps/new_pointers.shtml) to count the number of own children (of any age or marital status) residing with each individual. More specifically, NCHILD is based on the information contained in [RELATE](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/RELATE#codes_section) (relationship to household head), [MOMLOC](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/MOMLOC#codes_section), [MOMLOC2](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/MOMLOC2#codes_section), [POPLOC](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/POPLOC#codes_section), and [POPLOC2](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/POPLOC2#codes_section) (IPUMS derived parental link variables).

I hope this helps.