What Is a Normal Respiration Rate Per Minute?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 26, 2020

Normal respiratory rate can vary by age and gender, but for most adults, it falls in between 12 and 18 breaths per minute. Consistently abnormal respiratory rates can be a sign of a serious medical issue.

Children breathe faster than adults, and women breathe faster than men. For children between the ages of 1 and 5 years old, a normal respiratory rate is anywhere between 22 and 40 breaths per minute. In children between 6 and 12 years old, regular respiration rate falls between 18 and 30 breaths per minute. For adolescents aged between 13 and 17, regular respiration rate is anywhere between 12 and 16 breaths per minute.