The heart pumps about 7,500 liters of blood daily and beats over 100,000 times per day, keeping the body oxygenated and nourished with a resting rate around 70 beats per minute and more than 3 billion beats across a typical lifetime.
Overview
The heart is a muscular pump that circulates blood through the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing waste. At rest an average adult heart beats roughly 60–80 times per minute; using 70 beats per minute as a simple reference gives a daily total exceeding 100,000 beats and a lifetime total in the order of billions.
Cardiac output
Cardiac output is the volume of blood the heart pumps each minute and equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume. With a typical resting stroke volume near 70 millilitres and a resting rate near 70 beats per minute, the heart pumps roughly 5 litres per minute and about 7,200–7,500 litres per day, supporting continuous tissue oxygenation and metabolism.
Daily and lifetime numbers
Using average values, the heart’s ~70 beats per minute corresponds to ~100,800 beats per day and over 3.0 billion beats in an 80-year lifespan. Actual totals vary with activity, fitness, age and health: athletes often have lower resting rates and longer lifespans, while stress, illness or vigorous activity temporarily increase beat counts.
Importance and health
Maintaining cardiovascular health preserves efficient pumping and optimal blood flow; factors such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep and avoiding tobacco help keep resting heart rate in a healthy range and reduce strain on the heart over decades.
Quick related facts
- Resting heart rate: ~70 beats per minute (average adult)
- Beats per day: ~100,000+
- Blood pumped per day: ~7,500 litres
- Beats per lifetime: >3 billion (typical lifespan)