Research indicates abnormal respiratory rate is an even better predictor of patient decline than heart rate or blood pressure—but it’s frequently the least monitored. Knowing what normal is for each age group is key to early detection, accurate evaluation, and safe clinical judgment.
In this manual, we demystify the typical respiratory rate ranges for adults and children—so whether you’re a student, teacher, or clinician, you’re armed with one of the most powerful tools in patient care.
What is a Normal Respiratory Rate in Adults?
The normal respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Your respiratory rate is a vital sign. It can indicate a serious condition, such as a cardiac arrest. If your respiratory rate is low, it can indicate central nervous system dysfunction. If your respiratory rate is high, it can indicate an underlying condition.
Some variation in respiratory rate may occur with aging. As we tend to get older, we become very prone to certain health conditions. Changes to your respiratory health or other organ systems can cause cessation of breathing.
What is the Normal Respiratory Rate in Children?
According to a 2022 article, children have a higher respiratory rate as compared to adults. Children breathe quickly as compared to adults. Once they reach teenage, children usually breathe at the same rate as adults. Infants have a much faster breathing rate as compared to older children. Breathing rates also vary by gender, females tend to have faster breathing rates as compared to males.
A respiratory rate must be measured when a person is resting and not after intense activity. An adult will breathe between 12 and 16 times per minute.
When adults have periodic swings in breathing rates, it can be concerning. One type of periodic breathing in adults is known as Cheyne-Stokes breathing. This refers to fast and shallow breaths along with periods of no breathing or slow breathing, at an erratic pattern caused by
- Congestive heart failure
- High altitude
- Low sodium level in the blood
- Final stages of dying
What is the Rapid Respiratory Rate in Newborns?
In newborns, common causes of a rapid respiratory rate include transient tachypnea of the newborn, a mild condition. Transient tachypnea is a condition where a person breathes faster than normal, usually for a short time. It is common in newborns and is caused by extra fluids in the lungs. This can make it difficult to breathe. However it tends to go away on its own. Respiratory distress syndrome is more common in premature infants.
What Does Your Respiratory Rate Measure?
Respiration is the metabolic process of oxygen intake and carbon dioxide release. It is controlled by a body system known as the respiratory drive. The respiratory rate speaks a lot about the overall health. So if someone is breathing faster or slower than usual. It can mean that there is some problem with their lungs or the heart. When you monitor respiratory rate, it can help you spot health problems and take prompt action
These work together to create a process that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide. When we breathe, we release low oxygen and high carbon dioxide. When we breathe in, we take in high oxygen and low carbon dioxide. The exchange of these elements is vital for metabolic processes to continue at the cellular level.
The respiratory drive is closely linked to the central nervous system. When the central nervous system is damaged, it can affect respiration rate.
For example, a stroke that causes brain stem damage can affect breathing. Narcotics can depress the central nervous system and affect breathing. There are other factors that affect your respiratory rate.
How do you Measure Breathing Rate?
To measure a person’s respiratory rate normal range, you must measure a person’s respiratory rate at rest. To take an accurate measurement, watch the chest rising and falling. Take one complete breath that comprises one inhalation when the chest rises. This is followed by one exhalation when the chest falls. To measure the respiratory rate, you must count the number of breaths for an entire minute. Count for 30 seconds and multiply that number by two.
Read more: Importance of Rescue Breathing in Effective CPR
What are the Reasons for a Slow Respiratory Rate?
A slow respiratory rate can indicate several underlying health concerns caused by:.
Medications:
Some medications, especially sedatives and opioids, can slow your breathing rate by calming the central nervous system. These drugs affect the brain’s ability to regulate breathing, which can make breaths become slower and shallower.
Brain Injuries:
Injuries to the brain, especially in the brainstem area which controls heart rate and respiration, can disrupt normal breathing patterns. Conditions like strokes or traumatic brain injuries often affect this area, leading to bradypnea.
Hypothyroidism:
With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to keep the body’s metabolism running at a normal pace. This affects many systems in the body, including the respiratory system, causing slower breathing.
Heart Conditions:
If the heart struggles to pump oxygen-rich blood efficiently, the body may reduce breathing speed to conserve energy. Managing conditions like heart failure can help normalize breathing.
What can Cause a Fast Rate?
A fast respiratory rate, or tachypnea, can happen due to several factors, including stress. It signals that the body may need more oxygen or is trying to eliminate excess carbon dioxide. Here are reasons that cause a fast rate:
Physical Activity:
Exercise or any intense physical exertion naturally increases breathing rate to supply the muscles with more oxygen. As activity levels rise, the body demands more oxygen, causing breaths to become faster and deeper. This process helps to fuel muscle activity and remove carbon dioxide, a byproduct of energy use. After the activity stops, the breathing rate gradually returns to normal as the body’s demand decreases.
Fever:
When someone has a fever, the body’s metabolic rate goes up, leading to faster breathing to help regulate temperature. With a higher metabolic rate, the body needs more oxygen and produces more carbon dioxide, which drives faster breathing. Fever is often a response to infection, so the body is working harder, increasing respiratory rate to meet energy demands. This effect is most noticeable in children, who often breathe faster with high fevers.
Anxiety or Panic Attacks:
During stress, anxiety, or panic, the body may enter “fight or flight” mode, which increases breathing rate. This reaction prepares the body to respond to perceived danger by increasing oxygen intake for alertness and energy. People may feel short of breath, and breathing can become shallow and rapid. Techniques to manage anxiety, like deep breathing, can help slow the respiratory rate during these episodes.
Respiratory Infections:
Conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis, or asthma flare-ups make it harder for the lungs to get oxygen, leading to faster breathing. The body responds by increasing the respiratory rate to compensate for the reduced oxygen levels and help clear congestion. These infections can cause inflammation or blockage in the airways. This makes it more challenging to breathe normally. The speed of your breathing, called respiratory rate, can give important clues about your health.
When conditions like asthma or pulmonary embolism are present, you might experience faster breathing. If you get asthma, swollen airways make it harder to breathe. So your body tries to take in more air and speeds your breath up. In a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs makes it difficult to get enough oxygen. This causes fast breathing. So monitor breathing to spot these problems early.
Read more: CPR Success Rate: How Effective Is CPR in 2024?
When to Contact a Doctor?
People with lung diseases may want to connect to a doctor if their respiratory rate is often atypical. It can be a sign that their lung disease is worsening.
A mild variation from the typical respiratory rate may not be a cause for concern. However, in some cases, a respiratory rate that is too high or too low can be a concern. A normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult is usually between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. A higher rate is considered tachypnea (too high), which can happen in conditions like fever, asthma, or anxiety. On the other hand, a lower rate below 12 breaths per minute is considered bradypnea (too low). A consistently abnormal rate is concerning and must be addressed.
Seek assistance if any of the following is present:
- Chest pain
- Gurgling sounds during breathing
- Cyanosis
- Taking very few breaths per minute
A child may require urgent medical treatment if:
They are having difficulty breathing. Signs like rapid, shallow breaths, wheezing, or struggling to breathe indicate a serious issue.
They have a high fever and severe headache. This could be a sign of meningitis or other severe infections, especially if accompanied by a stiff neck or rash.
They are experiencing seizures. Any seizure in a child, especially if it’s their first, requires immediate medical attention.
They are unresponsive or unusually drowsy: If a child is difficult to wake or seems unusually sleepy, it could signal a serious health issue, such as dehydration, low blood sugar, or brain injury.
They have ingested a harmful substance. Accidental ingestion of medications, cleaning products, or other toxic substances requires prompt medical intervention.
They have a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms like swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or hives indicate an urgent need for treatment.
Know your Breathing Basics
Normal respiration rate for children and adults can help spot health issues early. A normal rate shows the body is getting the right amount of oxygen. Changes in breathing speed might mean something is off. Exercise, stress, or health problems can cause breathing rates to change. So it’s helpful to watch them. If you or someone else has a breathing rate that seems too fast or slow over time, it is a good idea to check with a doctor.
FAQs
What is an unhealthy respiratory rate?
An unhealthy respiratory rate is one that’s too fast or too slow for a person’s age and activity level. This can signal issues such as breathing problems, or heart conditions. If breathing is very slow or very fast, you may need medical help.
What is the normal RR range by age?
A normal breathing rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Normal rates tend to vary by age. Infants offer 30-60 breaths per minute, toddlers 24-40 breaths, school-aged children (18-30 breaths per minute), and teens (12–20 breaths).
What is an alarming respiratory rate?
A respiratory rate over 25 breaths per minute in adults or under 12 can be concerning. In children, very high rates may be alarming. These unusual rates often indicate they need quick medical evaluation.
Is 20 respiratory rate normal?
Yes, a PR of 20 per minute is normal for adults, with a normal value of 12 to 20 per minute while resting. A high rest rate consistently, though, could be more reflective of underlying pathology and is to be clinically assessed.
What are the 7 vital signs?
The 7 most commonly checked vital signs are temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂), and level of pain and consciousness.
