The average age of candidates running in the 2026 elections reached a new record, reaching 49.2 years, according to consolidated data from the Superior Electoral Court database. This number represents a significant increase compared to 2002, when the average was 45.7 years. The analysis of the historical series shows a continuous trend of aging of candidates with each electoral cycle, with the average rising from 46.5 years in 2006 to 47.5 years in 2018, until reaching almost 50 years in the current electoral process.
The Southeast remains the region with the oldest candidates in the country, being one step away from breaking the five-decade barrier. The average age in the region in 2026 reached 49.9 years, whereas in 2002 it was 46.9 years. At the other extreme, the North Region has the youngest candidates in Brazil, with an average of 48.3 years, although it still maintains a trend of increasing age over the years.
The state of Rio de Janeiro was highlighted as the one with the oldest politicians among all Brazilian states. The geography of political aging follows the national trend, with candidates becoming progressively older with each election, both in the Southeast and in the other regions of the country.
