Cardinal Stats and Charts, Summer 2022

This posts assumes that there are no deaths among the current Cardinals.

As of today (27 Aug 2022, there are be 226 Living Cardinals with 132 eligible to vote in a conclave when that should become necessary.

The average age of the Cardinals is 78.2 and the average of the electors is 72.3 years old.

The average length of service as a Cardinal is 11.2 years, 8.0 years if only considering electors.

The youngest three Cardinals are (all from the group created today):

• Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C., 48.20, Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, S.D.B., 54.73, Archbishop of Díli, Timor-Leste.
• Paulo Cezar Costa, 55.08, Archbishop of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.

The oldest Cardinal is Alexandre do Nascimento (Archbishop Emeritus of Luanda, Angola) who is 97.5.

I've posted an updated version of the Cardinal Charts (warning: PDF format).

The charts are:

• Number of Cardinals (1585-2032; 1915-2032; and 1965-2032)
• Average Age (1585-2032; 1915-2032; and 1965-2032)
  

Cardinals Turning 80

When	Cardinal Electors
Now	132
End of 2022	126
End of 2023	115
End of 2024	102
End of 2025	89
End of 2026	84

(the table assumes no deaths nor new Cardinal Electors)

Cardinal-Electors as Percent of the College

With the introduction of the age limit for Cardinals to vote in a conclave, the percent of Cardinals eligible to vote had been trending downward. However, it has rebounded a bit in the recent times with the deaths of a number of the elderly Cardinals and a significant number of new creations.

Today, 58.4% are Electors. At the lowest point, it was 51.7% (before the November 2016 Consistory).

Assuming no Cardinal deaths and no new creations, on 30 Jan 2024, Cardinal-Electors will be 50% (113 of 226). A fortnight later it will fall below 50% for the first time ever (112 of 226).

Given that deaths of non-Electors are more likely, the dates will likely be later than those given above.

Age Limit and 120 Limit on Voting Cardinals

There is a technical limit of 120 voting Cardinals, but it has frequently been exceeded and by every Pope since it was established.

Currently there are 132 voting Cardinals. Assuming no deaths and no new Cardinals creations, the number will back to 120 voting Cardinals on 18 Sep 2023.

(See this link for more information on this topic)

Cardinal Electors and Modern Limits, updated October 2024

First a bit of background information before we get to the periods were there was more than 120 Cardinal Electors.

The age limit on electors became effective on 1 Jan 1971 (Ingravescentem Aetatem). The limit of 120 electors was added on 1 Oct 1975 (Romano Pontifici Eligendo). The current rule (cardinals age 80 or less on the day the Holy See becomes vacant may vote) was added on 22 Feb 1996 (Universi Dominici Gregis).

Before the 1996 language, it is not possible to precisely say the number of cardinal electors (it was based on when the conclave began), so I'll disregard the 2 times before then when the number could have been 121 for short periods. (See the 2nd table)

Since then, there have been 14 times when the 120 number was exceeded.

Start	End	Highest	Days	Pope	Note
21-Feb-2001	1-Aug-2002	136	526	JP2
21-Oct-2003	12-Dec-2004	134	418	JP2	1
21-Oct-2003	10-Jan-2005	135	447	JP2	2
24-Mar-2006	25-Mar-2006	121	1	B16
20-Nov-2010	27-Jan-2011	121	68	B16
18-Feb-2012	27-Jul-2012	125	160	B16
22-Feb-2014	12-Mar-2014	122	18	F
14-Feb-2015	20-Apr-2015	125	65	F
19-Nov-2016	29-Nov-2016	121	10	F
28-Jun-2017	6-Sep-2017	121	70	F
28-Jun-2018	28-Apr-2019	125	304	F
05-Oct-2019	30-Sep-2020	128	361	F
28-Nov-2020	08-Nov-2021	128	345	F
27-Aug-2022	31-Jul-2023	132	338	F
30-Sep-2023	23-May-2026	141	966	F	3

There are two entries beginning in 2003 due to Cardinal Gulbinowicz. At the time it was thought that his birth year was 1928 (age out in 2008), but in reality it was 1923 (age out in 2003 just before the consistory). The correct birth year was not acknowledged until February 2005.

1) in reality
2) as perceived at the time
3) the final period is an estimate that assumes no cardinal elector dies and no new ones beyond what have been announced are created before the end date.

For completeness, here are the other times when the 120 limit was exceeded with some notes.

Start	End	Highest	Days	Pope	Note
28-Apr-1968	1-Jan-1971	134	978	P6	1
30-Jun-1979	1-Jul-1979	121	1	JP2	2
28-Jun-1988	27-Jul-1988	121	29	JP2	2

1) This was before the age limit and the 120 cardinal elector limit existed.
2) The count and Days are based on the current language. At the time the age limit was more vague and a precise count of electors is not possible.

(Revised on 27 Aug 2018 to add info about Cardinal Gulbinowicz) 

(Updated on 27 Aug 2022 to add three new periods over the limit)

(Updated on 11 Jul 2023 to reflect recent Cardinal deaths and Cardinal-Designates)

(Updated on 7 Oct 2024 to reflect recent Cardinal deaths, Cardinal-Designates, and clarified Cardinal birthdates)