What is the average pulse rate of a human?

A normal resting rate for a healthy adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm), according to the Mayo Clinic. Human heart rates vary enormously with age, general health and physical exertion. Children and babies tend to have higher resting heart rates.

According to MedlinePlus, children under age 10 usually have heart rates of 70 to 110 bpm, with the rate inversely correlated to age. Babies under 1 month, for example, can vary widely from a resting rate as low as 70 bpm to a normal high of 190 bpm. Athletes tend to have slower pulses than untrained adults, with a normal range of 40 to 60 bpm. Exercise causes an increase in pulse rate, but this effect is temporary.