Congress skews older for three main reasons: incumbents almost always win reelection, members tend to stay for many terms, and the Constitution sets a minimum age for office but no maximum. At the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025, the average Representative was 57.9 years old and the average Senator was 63.9.
Average age: 57.9 in the House and 63.9 in the Senate, as of the start of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025.
Median age: 57.5 in the House and 64.7 in the Senate.
The range: the youngest Representative was 27 and the oldest was 87. The youngest Senator was 37 and the oldest was 91.
By generation: Generation X is now the largest group in the House, at 41% of members. Baby Boomers still hold a majority in the Senate, with 60 of 99 senators counted at the time.
These figures describe members at the start of the current Congress. Members have aged since, and some have retired or left office.
Sources: Congressional Research Service, "Membership of the 119th Congress: A Profile" (R48535, updated August 4, 2025); Pew Research Center, "Age and generation in the 119th Congress" (January 16, 2025).
Incumbents rarely lose: 94.7% of House members who sought reelection in 2020 won, and 94.0% won in 2022. In 2024, congressional incumbents running again won at a 98% rate. When nearly everyone who runs again keeps their seat, members age in place.
Careers run long: the average Representative in the 119th Congress had served 8.6 years, and the average Senator 11.2 years.
Newcomers aren't especially young either: newly elected Representatives in the 119th Congress averaged 50.2 years old, and newly elected Senators averaged 55.1. Many members arrive after careers in law, business, the military or state politics.
Seniority brings influence: in the Senate, the majority-party member with the most seniority on a committee has traditionally served as its chair. Republicans in both chambers cap committee leaders at six years, a rule House Republicans adopted when they took the majority in 1995, while House Democrats have no such limit. Where seniority counts, members have a reason to stay, and voters have a reason to keep an incumbent with clout.
There's no upper limit: the Constitution requires House members to be at least 25 and senators at least 30, but sets no maximum age and no limit on terms. Changing that would take a constitutional amendment.
Sources: Brookings Institution, Vital Statistics on Congress, House reelection rates (2020 and 2022); Ballotpedia, 2024 incumbent reelection rate; Congressional Research Service, R48535 (average service and newly elected members); U.S. Senate, "Committee Assignments" (seniority and chairs); Colorado Politics, "House Republican 6-year ceilings for top committee posts turn 30" (March 7, 2025); U.S. Constitution, Article I, Sections 2 and 3.
Recently, it has held steady at an older level: across the last four Congresses, the average House member has been between 57.6 and 58.4 years old at the start of each Congress, and the average Senator between 62.9 and 64.3.
The Senate is the exception to watch: the Senate's median age rose for three straight Congresses before dipping slightly in the 119th, after the death or retirement of some of its oldest members.
Sources: Congressional Research Service, R48535, Table 1 (116th to 119th Congresses); Pew Research Center (January 16, 2025).
Term limits: would cap how many terms a member can serve. See are there term limits for members of Congress?
Age limits: would set a maximum age to run or serve. See is there an age limit for Congress?
The trade-offs: supporters argue limits would bring in new members and new ideas. Opponents argue they would remove experienced lawmakers, shift influence to staff and lobbyists, and take a choice away from voters. Both proposals would require a constitutional amendment for Congress. For a side-by-side look, see term limits or age limits: which would do more for Congress?
What is the minimum age to serve in Congress?
25 for the House of Representatives and 30 for the Senate, under Article I of the Constitution. Representatives must also have been U.S. citizens for 7 years, and senators for 9 years.
Is there a maximum age for members of Congress?
No. The Constitution sets no upper age limit, and no law currently imposes one on members of Congress.
What is the average age of Congress?
At the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025, the average Representative was 57.9 and the average Senator was 63.9, according to the Congressional Research Service.
How often do members of Congress win reelection?
Very often. About 94% of House members seeking reelection won in 2020 and 2022, and congressional incumbents won at a 98% rate in 2024.
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