PROC LCA sample size limitation

YL_SAS_User — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:03:04 GMT

I am experiencing a sample size limitation when running PROC LCA in SAS and would appreciate any guidance.

My dataset contains approximately 1 million observations, but PROC LCA fails to run when the sample size exceeds about 245,000 observations. When I reduce the sample size below this level, the procedure runs successfully.

Does PROC LCA has a known sample size or memory limit?

Are there any recommended options or alternative approaches in SAS for performing latent class analysis on datasets of this size?

Re: PROC LCA sample size limitation

russt_sas — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:41:51 GMT

LCA is not a procedure that SAS supports, but it was created by others as a custom PROC. I think you can find the doc and supporting info here: https://www.latentclassanalysis.com/software/proc-lca-proc-lta/

Here is a paper that may be helpful that performs Latent Class Analysis Using the CATMOD Procedure:

https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings/proceedings/sugi31/201-31.pdf

topic Re: PROC LCA sample size limitation in SAS Procedures

PROC LCA sample size limitation

Re: PROC LCA sample size limitation