Description

SEX reports whether the person was male or female.

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable across years and samples.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: All samples
• 2010: All samples
• 2009: All samples
• 2008: All samples
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2004: All samples
• 2003: All samples
• 2002: All samples
• 2001: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: All samples
• 1970: All samples
• 1960: All samples
• 1950: All samples
• 1940: All samples
• 1930: All samples
• 1920: All samples
• 1910: All samples
• 1900: All samples
• 1880: All samples
• 1870: All samples
• 1860: All samples
• 1850: All samples

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: All samples
• 2010: All samples
• 2009: All samples
• 2008: All samples
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: All samples
• 1970: All samples
• 1930: All samples
• 1920: All samples
• 1910: All samples

Flags

Editing Procedure

SEX (Sex)
ACS Years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
ACS editing procedure:
If a person's value for SEX is missing, but they have a first name listed that is recognized as a male or female name, the first name will be used to allocate SEX. For names that are not clear (depending on year, this occurs when less than 90% or 95% of people with that name are one sex), SEX will be assigned in based on the proportion male and female. This step won't apply if there are not enough letters in the name or enough people with the name to determine the likely sex. When SEX is assigned based on name, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
If the household reference person's value for SEX is missing and there is a spouse in the household (RELATE) with a non-missing value of SEX, the reference person's value for SEX will be allocated. If the spouse's value of SEX is male, the reference person's value of SEX will be allocated as female; if the spouse's value of SEX is female, the reference person's value of SEX will be allocated as male. When this happens, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
If the someone with a value of spouse for RELATE has a missing value for SEX and the reference person has a non-missing value of SEX, the spouses value for SEX will be allocated. If the reference person's value of SEX is male, the spouse's value of SEX will be allocated as female; if the reference person's value of SEX is female, the spouse's value of SEX will be allocated as male. When this happens, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
If a person's value for SEX is missing and has not yet been allocated, but the value for having had a child in the past year (FERTYR) is non-missing and the person's age (AGE) is 15 or over, the value of SEX will be allocated as female. When this happens, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
If SEX is missing and has not yet been allocated and AGE is missing, SEX will be allocated as male 49% of the time and female 51% of the time. When this happens, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
If SEX is missing and has not yet been allocated and AGE is non-missing, SEX will be allocated. The value of SEX will be allocated as male 51% of the time and female 49% of the time for ages 0 to 23 (except for age 17, which is 52% male and 48% female). The value of SEX will be allocated as male 50% of the time and female 50% of the time for ages 24 to 40. The value of SEX will be allocated as male 49% of the time and female 51% of the time for ages 41 to 53 (except for age 44, which is 50% male and 50% female). After age 53, the proportion allocated as male steadily decreases with age. For those 100 and older, the value of SEX will be allocated as male 18% of the time and female 82% of the time. When this happens, the flag will show that the value is allocated (QSEX).
Internal ACS variable : SEX