The typical respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12–20 breaths per minute. Average resting respiratory rates by age are: 1  birth to 6 weeks: 30–60 breaths per minute. 2  6 months: 25–40 breaths per minute.uman respiration rate is measured when a person is at rest and involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises.