Eleanor Finch
The US House of Representatives has become more racially and ethnically diverse over the years. However, the vast majority of members of Congress are still white. In the 118th Congress, 75% of voting members were non-Hispanic whites, compared to 59% of the US population. This gap is similar to what it was in 1981, when 94% of members of Congress were white, compared to 80% of the US population. In the 119th Congress, 74% of members were non-Hispanic whites, while the percentage in the US population was 58%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | As of Jan. 3, 2023 |
| Total voting members of Congress | 534 |
| Members who are non-Hispanic White | 75% |
| Members who are racial or ethnic minorities | 25% |
| Members who are Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian or Alaska Native | 133 |
| Members who are Black | 14% |
| Members who are Asian Americans | 4% |
| Female members | 128 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The 118th Congress was the most racially diverse in history
- Non-Hispanic Whites make up a larger share of Congress than the US population
- % of the House of Representatives are people of colour
- The House has seen slow but steady growth in the number of women members
- The vast majority of racial and ethnic minority members in Congress are Democrats
The 118th Congress was the most racially diverse in history
The 118th Congress of the United States, which first convened in January 2023, is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. Overall, 133 voting members of the Senate and House of Representatives identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, or multiracial. This represents 25% of Congress, including 28% of the House of Representatives and 12% of the Senate. In comparison, when the 79th Congress took office in 1945, non-White lawmakers made up just 1% of the combined House and Senate.
The increasing racial and ethnic diversity of Congress is a continuation of a long-running trend. The 118th Congress is the seventh in a row to break the record set by the previous one. The number of racial and ethnic minority members of Congress has nearly doubled in the two decades since the 108th Congress of 2003-2005, which had 67 minority members. Despite this progress, Congress remains less diverse than the nation as a whole. Non-Hispanic White Americans account for 75% of voting members of Congress, considerably more than their 59% share of the U.S. population.
The 118th Congress achieved several other demographic milestones. It includes the first female lawmaker from Vermont and the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from that state, Becca Balint. With Balint's election, all 50 states have now been represented by women in Congress. Generation Z is also represented in the national legislature for the first time.
While Congress has become more diverse, members are still more likely than the overall U.S. population to be non-Hispanic White. The average age of members of the 118th Congress is 58.1 years, making it the third oldest since the late 18th century. The age of representatives in the 118th Congress decreased compared to the previous Congress, driven by a disproportionate number of newly elected members in their 40s or younger.
Philosophers' Influence on the American Constitution
You may want to see also
Non-Hispanic Whites make up a larger share of Congress than the US population
While the US Congress is more diverse today than ever before, non-Hispanic whites still make up a larger share of Congress than the US population. In the 118th Congress, which is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history, non-Hispanic whites account for 75% of voting members, while they make up only 59% of the US population. This disparity is similar to what it was in 1981, when 94% of members of Congress were white, compared to 80% of the US population.
The US Congress has seen a long-running trend towards increased racial and ethnic diversity. The 118th Congress, which took office in January 2023, is a testament to this progress. It is the seventh Congress in a row to break the record set by the previous one. Overall, 133 lawmakers in the 118th Congress identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, or multiracial. These lawmakers make up a quarter of Congress, including 28% of the House of Representatives and 12% of the Senate.
Despite this progress, Congress remains less diverse than the nation as a whole. In the House of Representatives, some racial and ethnic groups are now represented in proportion to their share of the total US population, while others continue to be underrepresented. For example, 14% of House members are Black, which is proportional to the overall share of Black Americans. On the other hand, Hispanic and Latino Americans make up 18% of the US population but only 7% of Congress.
The racial and ethnic composition of Congress also varies between the two chambers. The House of Representatives is more diverse than the Senate, with 28% of its members belonging to racial or ethnic minorities, compared to 12% in the Senate. Additionally, the political affiliation of members plays a role in the representation of different racial and ethnic groups. The vast majority (84%) of racial and ethnic minority members in Congress are Democrats, while only 16% are Republicans.
The French Constitution of 1791: A Foundation for Democracy
You may want to see also
28% of the House of Representatives are people of colour
The 118th US Congress, which took office in January 2023, was the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. 28% of the House of Representatives were people of colour. This is a significant increase from 1945, when non-white lawmakers represented just 1% of the House and Senate combined.
In terms of racial and ethnic breakdown, 13% of House members are Black, which is about equal to the share of Black Americans in the US population. Native Americans and Alaska Natives make up about 1% of the House, which is also on par with their share of the total US population. However, the share of Hispanic and Asian American representatives in Congress is lower than their share of the US population. Hispanic Americans make up 11% of the House, compared to 19% of the US population, while Asian Americans make up 4% of the House and 6% of the national population.
The 118th Congress also saw milestones in terms of other demographic measures. Generation Z was represented in the national legislature for the first time, and Vermont sent a female lawmaker to Capitol Hill. The number of women in Congress is at an all-time high, with 128 women serving in the House, making up 29% of the chamber's membership. Additionally, with the election of Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat, all 50 states have now had female representation in Congress.
The 119th Congress, which took office in January 2025, continued to see growth in racial and ethnic diversity. Overall, 139 senators and representatives identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or Native American. This number has nearly doubled in the two decades since the 109th Congress of 2005-2007, which had 73 members belonging to racial or ethnic minorities. In the 119th Congress, 28% of House members are people of colour, the same as in the previous Congress. Despite this growing diversity, non-Hispanic White people still make up a larger share of Congress (74%) than of the overall US population (58%).
US Department of Education: Roles and Responsibilities Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The House has seen slow but steady growth in the number of women members
The House of Representatives has seen a slow but steady increase in the number of women members since the 1920s when women gained the right to vote. The first woman to be elected to the House was Montana Republican Jeannette Rankin in 1916, two years after her state gave women the vote. However, women only began serving in more substantial numbers in the past few decades. More than two-thirds of the women ever elected to the House (261 of 381) have been elected in 1992 or later. The year 1992 was later dubbed "The Year of the Woman", as four new female senators and 24 new congresswomen were elected.
The 118th Congress, which took office in January 2023, achieved a variety of milestones. Generation Z is now represented in the national legislature, while Vermont sent a female lawmaker to Capitol Hill for the first time. A record 128 women are currently serving in the House, making up 29% of the chamber's membership. This includes 22 newly elected congresswomen, including Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat who became the first woman and first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from her state. With Balint's election, all 50 states have now had female representation in the US Congress at some point.
Despite this growth, Congress remains less diverse than the nation as a whole. Non-Hispanic White Americans account for 75% of voting members in the new Congress, which is considerably more than their 59% share of the US population. Mississippi is the only state that has not elected a woman to the House of Representatives, although it has elected a woman to the US Senate. California has elected more women to Congress than any other state, with 50 US representatives elected since 1923.
The Baker v. Carr Constitutional Conundrum
You may want to see also
The vast majority of racial and ethnic minority members in Congress are Democrats
The 118th US Congress, which took office in January 2023, is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of Congress members are still non-Hispanic White, accounting for 75% of voting members. This is considerably higher than their share of the US population, which is 59%.
The 118th Congress achieved a variety of milestones, including the representation of Generation Z and the state of Vermont sending a female lawmaker to Capitol Hill for the first time. In the House of Representatives, 27 freshman members are racial or ethnic minorities, including 19 Democrats and eight Republicans. Overall, 133 lawmakers identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, or multiracial. These lawmakers make up a quarter of Congress, including 28% of the House of Representatives and 12% of the Senate.
The vast majority (80%) of racial and ethnic minority members in the 118th Congress are Democrats, while 20% are Republicans. This trend continues into the 119th Congress, where 84% of racial and ethnic minority members are Democrats, and 16% are Republicans. In the 119th Congress, the House includes 16 newly elected members who are racial or ethnic minorities, with 15 Democrats and one Republican.
While Congress has become more diverse, it still lags behind the broader US population in terms of demographic representation. In the upper chamber of Congress, 16 senators are racial or ethnic minorities, with three-quarters of them (75%) being Democrats. This includes historic representation, such as the first Native American to serve in the Senate since 2005, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, and the first two Black women to serve simultaneously in the Senate, Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware.
Constitutions with Freedom of Speech: A Global Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, 75% of voting members of Congress are non-Hispanic whites, which amounts to 400 members out of a total of 534.
The 118th Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. The number of minority members of Congress has nearly doubled in the two decades since the 108th Congress of 2003-05, which had 67 minority members. Despite this, Congress remains less diverse than the nation as a whole.
The House of Representatives is more diverse than the Senate. In the Senate, the picture is still more lopsided than in the House, with only 12 out of 100 senators being non-white and/or of Latino ancestry.
