A normal respiratory rate, which is the number of breaths taken per minute, varies by age:
- For healthy adults at rest, the typical respiratory rate is about 12 to 20 breaths per minute , with some sources specifying a narrower range of 12 to 16 or 12 to 18 breaths per minute
- For children, the normal respiratory rate varies significantly with age:
- Birth to 6 months: 30 to 60 breaths per minute
- 6 months to 1 year: 30 to 50 breaths per minute
- 1 to 3 years: 24 to 40 breaths per minute
- 3 to 5 years: 22 to 34 breaths per minute
- 5 to 12 years: 16 to 30 breaths per minute
- 12 to 18 years: 12 to 20 breaths per minute
Respiratory rate is an important vital sign that reflects how well the body is delivering oxygen to organs and tissues. It is usually measured when a person is at rest by counting the number of chest rises (breaths) in one minute
. Factors such as emotional state, physical fitness, illness, and age can affect the respiratory rate. During sleep, respiratory rate tends to slow down, especially in deep non-REM sleep, but can become irregular during REM sleep
. In summary, for a typical healthy adult at rest, the normal breathing rate is about 12 to 20 breaths per minute. For children, the rate is higher and decreases with age
