Despite being the most racially and ethnically diverse Congress in U.S. history, the 118th Congress still lacks the diversity of the U.S. populace.
Demographics of 118th Congress compared to U.S. population
Source: Pew Research Center and Census Bureau. Notes: Data reflects the 534 voting members of the 118th Congress as of Jan. 3, 2023. Data does not include non voting delegates or commissioners. White population is non-Hispanic. Members with more than one racial/ ethnic identity are counted in each applicable group.
The 118th Congress, convened on January 3rd, is the most racially and ethnically diverse Congress in American history, with more than a quarter of current members of Congress identifying as non-White and/or Hispanic. This continues a trend of increasingly racially and ethnically diverse representation in Congress, with the 118th Congress being the seventh Congress to break the record set by the one before it. The vast majority (80%) of racial and ethnic minority members in the new Congress are Democrats, while 20% are Republicans — similar to the previous Congress.1 Additionally, 129 women hold seats in Congress — more than ever before — and there are a record-breaking 13 lesbian, gay, or bisexual members of Congress.2,3
Despite these gains, Congress still lacks the diversity of the country’s population. Women make up 51% of the U.S. population but hold only 28% of the seats in Congress. 10% of the members of Congress are Hispanic, compared to 20% of the nation’s population. Black and Asian representation in Congress both lag by 3 percentage points. Additionally, this Congress is, on average, one of the oldest in the last century — with a median age of 63.9 years in the Senate and 57.5 years in the House.4
“U.S. Congress continues to grow in racial, ethnic diversity”. Schaeffer. Pew. January, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/09/u-s-congress-continues-to-grow-in-racial-ethnic-diversity/
“New Records for Women in the U.S. Congress and House”. De Simone. Center for American Women and Politics. November, 2022. https://cawp.rutgers.edu/news-media/press-releases/new-records-women-us-congress-and-house
“118th Congress breaks record for lesbian, gay and bisexual representation”. Schaeffer. Pew. January, 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/11/118th-congress-breaks-record-for-lesbian-gay-and-bisexual-representation/
“The 118th Congress is the third oldest since 1789”. Murphy. NBC News. January, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/118th-congress-age-third-oldest-1789-rcna64117
