What is the normal adult respiratory rate range?

• A. 8-12
• B. 20-30
• C. 30-60
• D. 12-20 breaths per minute.

Answer: (D)

Normal resting adult respiratory rate is about 12 to 20 breaths per minute. This range represents typical ventilation when the body is at rest and not in distress. Rates below 12 are considered bradypnea, while rates above 20 are tachypnea; notably high rates often accompany fever, hypoxemia, metabolic or respiratory stress, pain, or anxiety. To measure it accurately, count breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by two, or count for a full minute. The 12–20 range is the one that aligns with normal resting breathing, while the other ranges describe slower or faster-than-normal breathing.