Research · Brookings AI
The datasets were published in print until 2013 when the project migrated online for the first time
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◌ Single Source
The eight chapters below contain more than 90 tables of data which were collected through the years of this project and updated most recently in April 2026.
Key facts
- For additional detail regarding the coding methodology used in tables 1-8 through 1-13, please see this table
- Data collection for Chapter 3 was performed by Michael Malbin, Brendan Glavin, and the team at the Campaign Finance Institute
- Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, in collaboration with Michael Malbin of the Campaign Finance Institute
- The eight chapters below contain more than 90 tables of data which were collected through the years of this project and updated most recently in April 2026
Summary
Vital Statistics on Congress, first published in 1980, long ago became the go-to source of impartial data on the United States Congress. With some chapters of data dating back nearly 100 years, Vital Statistics also documents how Congress has changed over time, illustrating, for example, the increasing polarization of Congress and the diversifying demographics of those who are elected to serve. Vital Statistics began as a joint effort undertaken by Thomas E. Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, in collaboration with Michael Malbin of the Campaign Finance Institute. Each individual chapter and table is available for download below at no cost. Each table is available in several formats, including as.csv files oriented in long, rather than wide, format.