How many breaths do you average each day?

The American Lung Association states that most people breathe 20,000 times per day, but the number of breaths taken daily varies depending on overall health. Young children breathe more often than adults because their smaller lungs have to work harder.

The American Lung Association says that the average adult takes 15 to 20 breaths per minute. The health of the respiratory system plays a vital role in how often a person must breathe. The lungs are the primary organ of the respiratory system. The rate at which a person breathes changes over a lifetime, and older people generally struggle with shortness of breath because of their declining respiratory function.