The changing makeup of CPC delegates

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A total of 2,289 delegates of the Communist Party of China will arrive in Beijing to attend the 19th CPC National Congress. CGTN breaks down the makeup of this important group to look at who they are, where they're from and, potentially, what decisions they will make.

Besides the country's high-ranking politicians, the delegates are comprised of a large number of business people, intellectuals and grassroots workers from a diverse – and changing – political, economic and cultural landscape.

This year has witnessed a notable rise in female representation. One out of every five delegates were female in 2007. Now it's one in four. The number of female delegates has risen by over a hundred from 10 years ago.

Female representation on the rise / CGTN Picture

At the same time, this year's delegates are relatively a lot younger.

Compared to the last Party Congress five years ago, the number of delegates under the age of 55 has risen to 1,600 from under 1,500. There are also more delegates under the age of 45.

Delegates getting younger / CGTN Picture

The Party is opening the door to a new generation of members. This year, nearly 90 percent of the delegates joined the Communist Party of China after the country's reform and opening up in 1978, a significant increase from around 70 percent five years ago.

And nearly one out of every five delegates joined the Party at the turn of the century.

Most delegates joined CPC after 1978 / CGTN Picture

Most of the delegates this year are also much better educated.

More than half have at least a Master's degree, while a third are college graduates with bachelor's degrees.

Most delegates have higher education / CGTN Picture

But they are by no means just from the ivory tower. One out of every three delegates are front-line production and manufacturing employees.

Among the 771 front-line staff, nearly 200 are workers or migrant workers, and 86 are farmers, representing grassroots interests.

And nearly 300 are professional technical personnel. Among them is Jing Haipeng, the first Chinese astronaut to have completed three manned space missions.

Delegates from front-line production and manufacturing / CGTN Picture

Lastly, ethnic minorities are also enjoying better representation. The number of delegates with an ethnic background is up from 249 in 2012 to 264 this year, taking up over 10 percent.

Muslim groups, such as the Hui people, make up most of the minorities with 38 delegates. There are also 33 Tibetans and 32 Manchus.

Top 8 ethnic minority groups on this year's Congress / CGTN Picture‍

A close look at who they are gives us a glimpse of what they might do at the 19th CPC National Congress next week to shape China's political future.