What is the average heart rate, in beats per minute?

The average heart rate of a resting adult typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, with 72 beats per minute often cited as the standard or average value. This rate is advantageous for maintaining adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body's tissues during periods of rest.

This average is supported by various studies and health resources, which indicate that a heart rate around 72 BPM is a convenient benchmark in clinical settings for evaluating cardiovascular health. It reflects a proper balance between cardiac output and metabolic needs at rest, allowing healthcare professionals to assess an individual's heart rate against this common standard.

The other values presented—60 BPM, 80 BPM, and 90 BPM—are within the normal ranges but are less frequently characterized as the average. While 60 BPM is the lower threshold of a normal resting heart rate and could represent well-trained athletes, it does not provide an average. Meanwhile, heart rates of 80 BPM and 90 BPM may suggest a more heightened state of activity or stress and are less represented as typical averages for a healthy resting state.