Normal resting heart rate by age
For adults, a normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute (American Heart Association). In US national survey data (CDC, NHANES 1999–2008), the median adult resting pulse was about 67–69 bpm for men and 70–74 bpm for women, depending on age. Children's rates are much higher and fall through childhood, from a median of about 126 bpm under age 1 to 76 bpm at 12–15. Ranges vary between people.
Ranges vary between people and with how the pulse is measured. Percentiles describe where a reading sits in the US population, not whether it is healthy for you. This page is general information, not medical advice — if your heart rate is unusually high or low for you, or comes with symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional.
Adult resting heart rate by age: men
Resting pulse in beats per minute, from CDC NHANES 1999–2008 (Ostchega et al., 2011, Table 2).
| Age | Mean | 5th percentile | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16–19 | 72 | 52 | 61 | 69 | 78 | 92 |
| 20–39 | 71 | 52 | 61 | 69 | 76 | 89 |
| 40–59 | 71 | 52 | 61 | 68 | 77 | 90 |
| 60–79 | 70 | 50 | 60 | 67 | 75 | 91 |
| 80+ | 71 | 51 | 61 | 68 | 78 | 94 |
Adult resting heart rate by age: women
From the same report, Table 3.
| Age | Mean | 5th percentile | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16–19 | 79 | 58 | 69 | 77 | 85 | 99 |
| 20–39 | 76 | 57 | 66 | 74 | 82 | 95 |
| 40–59 | 73 | 56 | 64 | 71 | 79 | 92 |
| 60–79 | 73 | 56 | 64 | 70 | 78 | 92 |
| 80+ | 73 | 56 | 64 | 71 | 77 | 93 |
Children's resting heart rate by age
Boys and girls combined, from the same report, Table 1.
| Age | Mean | 5th percentile | Median | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 129 | 103 | 126 | 156 |
| 1 year | 118 | 95 | 116 | 138 |
| 2–3 years | 107 | 86 | 105 | 124 |
| 4–5 years | 96 | 75 | 94 | 114 |
| 6–8 years | 87 | 68 | 85 | 105 |
| 9–11 years | 83 | 63 | 81 | 101 |
| 12–15 years | 78 | 58 | 76 | 98 |
Clinical reference ranges
The ranges MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) lists as normal resting heart rates:
| Age | Normal resting heart rate |
|---|---|
| Newborns (0–1 month) | 70–190 bpm |
| Infants (1–11 months) | 80–160 bpm |
| Children 1–2 years | 80–130 bpm |
| Children 3–4 years | 80–120 bpm |
| Children 5–6 years | 75–115 bpm |
| Children 7–9 years | 70–110 bpm |
| Children 10+ and adults, including seniors | 60–100 bpm |
| Well-trained athletes | 40–60 bpm |
How the numbers were measured
The NHANES figures come from 35,302 people examined between 1999 and 2008, excluding anyone with a current condition or medication that affects pulse rate. For participants over age 4, a physician counted the wrist pulse for 30 seconds after about 4 minutes of seated rest and doubled it. Your watch or ring calculates resting heart rate in its own way, so compare it mostly with its own history rather than with a clinic-style reading.
Sources
- Ostchega Y, Porter KS, Hughes J, Dillon CF, Nwankwo T. Resting pulse rate reference data for children, adolescents, and adults: United States, 1999–2008. National Health Statistics Reports no. 41. National Center for Health Statistics, 2011. Tables 1–3.
- American Heart Association. All About Heart Rate.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Pulse. US National Library of Medicine.
Body Vitals — resting heart rate on your home screen
Body Vitals turns the resting heart rate, HRV and sleep your Apple Watch writes to Apple Health into iPhone widgets and a daily Readiness Score calibrated to your personal 90-day baseline, so you see your own trend rather than a population average. On-device, no account, no extra hardware.
View on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What is a normal resting heart rate by age?
For adults, the American Heart Association gives 60 to 100 beats per minute when sitting or lying, calm and well. In CDC NHANES data from 1999-2008, the median resting pulse was 69 bpm for men aged 20-39, 68 for 40-59 and 67 for 60-79; for women it was 74, 71 and 70 bpm. Children run higher: the median was 126 bpm under age 1, 105 at 2-3, 85 at 6-8 and 76 at 12-15.
Is a resting heart rate below 60 bad?
Not necessarily. The American Heart Association says a rate under 60 may be called bradycardia but does not always signal a medical problem; it is common in athletes and can be caused by medication such as beta blockers. In the NHANES data, 15.2% of adult men and 6.9% of adult women had a resting pulse under 60. Talk to a healthcare professional if a low or high rate comes with symptoms such as dizziness or fainting.
Do women have a higher resting heart rate than men?
On average, yes, by a few beats. In NHANES 1999-2008, adults aged 20 and over had a mean resting pulse of 74 bpm for women and 71 bpm for men. The gap is largest in younger adults and narrows with age.
How do I measure my resting heart rate?
MedlinePlus advises resting for at least 10 minutes first, then counting the pulse at your wrist or neck for a full minute, or for 30 seconds and multiplying by 2. NHANES took a seated wrist pulse for 30 seconds after about 4 minutes of quiet rest. Watches and rings estimate resting heart rate differently, so compare a device mainly with itself.
Does resting heart rate change with age?
It falls steeply through childhood and then levels off. The CDC report found a mean of 129 bpm under age 1, 96 bpm by age 4-5 and 78 bpm at 12-15, plateauing at about 72 bpm in adulthood, with only small differences between adult age groups.