BlogCPR Success Rate: How Effective Is CPR?

Understanding CPR Success Rates: Effectiveness and Influencing Factors

Author:
CPR Select Editorial Team
Last updated:
1/5/2026

Cardiac arrest claims more lives than cancer, influenza, pneumonia, road accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined worldwide. In the United States, adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients have an overall survival-to-hospital-discharge rate of about 10%, meaning roughly 90% do not survive. CPR administered immediately after cardiac arrest increases the person’s chance of survival. But how effective does CPR is? CPR success can be measured in several ways, including return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital admission, survival to hospital discharge, and neurologically intact survival. Let’s look at the CPR success rate through some facts and statistics in this article.

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Why is CPR Important?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial lifesaving procedure for someone whose heart has stopped or is no longer breathing. Within the first 4 minutes of the arrest, brain damage is not likely, and there’s still a chance of survival. During cardiac arrest without CPR or restored circulation, the risk of irreversible brain injury increases after about 4–6 minutes, with severe brain damage or death likely after approximately 10 minutes. Brain death is expected to occur after 10 minutes of the arrest, and there’s a slim chance of surviving.

Despite this, a 2023 U.S. public survey found that about 70% of adults reported hesitation about performing CPR, often due to fear of causing harm or legal concerns. Therefore, CPR recertification should be updated every year or two. Because of this, despite its importance, people doubt they perform a successful resuscitation.

cpr success rate

Cases of Cardiac Arrest in the United States

There are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the United States. According to the Heart and Stroke Statistics report from the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest remains a public health crisis. Unfortunately, almost 90% of these cases are fatal. Many die in this situation because only 40% of victims get CPR from bystanders (2022-2023 data). And in instances where CPR was performed, it has come after the heart had been stopped for several minutes. So the sooner you take action, the better the outcomes for a person suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

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Is CPR Effective?

Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation doubles or even triple the chances of survival when performed early enough after cardiac arrest. However, the success of CPR is vastly overrated by patients. The researchers said that the general public considers CPR more effective than it is, and they tend to ignore the negative effect it has.

  • Adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival to hospital discharge averages about 10–12%.
  • Adult in-hospital cardiac arrest survival to discharge is higher, commonly reported around 20–25%.
  • Pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest survival to discharge is reported at approximately 40–50%.
group cpr training

How often is CPR successful in reviving someone in cardiac arrest?

The success rate of CPR in reviving someone in cardiac arrest vary depending on a number of factors, such as the person's age, overall health, and how quickly CPR is initiated. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the overall survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 10%. However, survival rates are improved if bystander CPR is started immediately.

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What percentage of people survive after receiving CPR?

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the overall survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 10%. However, survival rates can be improved if bystander CPR is started immediately. Modern studies show that early bystander CPR nearly doubles the odds of survival to hospital discharge compared to no CPR.

 

How long should CPR be performed before it is deemed unsuccessful?

The duration of CPR that should be performed before it is deemed unsuccessful varies depending on the situation. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), CPR should be performed continuously until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive or until an automated external defibrillator (AED) becomes available. If the person does not respond to CPR within a reasonable amount of time, EMS declares the person dead on the scene.

 

What is the average survival rate for individuals who receive CPR outside of a hospital setting?

The average survival rate for individuals who receive CPR outside of a hospital setting varies depending on a number of factors. According to the AHA, the overall survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 10%. However, survival rates is improved if bystander CPR is started immediately. Studies have shown that bystander CPR doubles or triple the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. 

 

Is the success rate of CPR higher when performed by a trained professional as opposed to a bystander?

The success rate of CPR is generally higher when performed by a trained professional, such as a paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT), as opposed to a bystander. However, bystander CPR is still critical to improving survival rates for people experiencing cardiac arrest. According to the AHA, the most important factor in the success of CPR is how quickly it is initiated.

 

What Are the 3 Factors That Impact the Rate of Survival?

For heart attack and cardiac arrest victims outside of a hospital, several factors increase their chances of making it to the hospital and recovering from being safely discharged. These factors include having the event witnessed by someone and receiving CPR as soon as possible.

1. Bystander CPR and EMS CPR:

Emergency medical responders are trained to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at a rate of 30:2 compressions to ventilation ratio. Each chest compression manually pumps blood to the brain and other vital organs. The recommended chest compression rate is 100-120 compressions per minute. Even partially restoring blood flow increases the chances of survival.

Compared to CPR done by a healthcare provider, bystander CPR has lower rates of survival, but it improves the chances of survival. That’s why the American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn hands-only CPR or compression-only CPR (performing uninterrupted chest compressions without rescue breathing). Research has also found that high-quality CPR training and initiating CPR as soon as possible after the arrest significantly improve long-term survival outcomes.

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2. Whether the Cardiac Arrest Was Witnessed by Anyone:

In a clinical study of 874 cardiac arrest patients, witnessed arrests were associated with significantly higher survival to hospital discharge compared with unwitnessed arrests.

Although bystanders performed CPR on 32% of cardiac arrest victims, early bystander CPR was not associated with increased survival. In addition, the researchers found that early bystander CPR didn’t improve survival either because the rescuer or bystander did not perform CPR correctly. These findings emphasize the importance of CPR training and early notification of paramedics by bystanders.

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3. Location Where CPR Was Performed:

Population-based studies report higher cardiac arrest survival rates in North America and Europe compared with many other regions, reflecting differences in bystander CPR rates, AED access, and EMS response times. However, the popularity of CPR certification classes is more recent in most Asian countries than in Europe and the United States, so the quality of bystander CPR is lower there.

The threshold for starting CPR by an emergency medical responder is also lower in other non-Western countries. These leads to lower survival rates for OHCA in Asia.

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CPR Success Rate by Gender

There is a disturbing difference between the sexes regarding CPR initiated after a heart attack and cardiac arrest. While the rate of the likelihood of help at home is similar between males and females but not in public places. Studies show men are more likely than women to receive bystander CPR in public settings (about 27% higher odds). Multiple studies report that women experience lower rates of bystander CPR in public settings than men, which is associated with lower survival to hospital discharge.

When Resuscitation is attempted, women have lower survival rates at each stage of care. This discrepancy between gender comes down to the differences in male and female anatomy. For example, bystanders are reluctant to perform CPR on a woman because women have breasts, making some people uncomfortable and unsure whether or not they should intervene.

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Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in CPR Survival

Studies show that patients in lower-income or minority neighborhoods are less likely to receive bystander CPR and often experience longer EMS response times, contributing to lower survival rates. They also face lower survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Studies suggest these disparities are linked to differences in access to CPR training, community resources, and emergency response times. Similarly, people in low-income neighborhoods are statistically less likely to receive bystander assistance than those in higher-income, predominantly white communities.

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Are there any new techniques or technologies that can improve the success rate of CPR?

There are several new techniques and technologies that have been developed to improve the success rate of CPR. One example is mechanical CPR devices, which provides consistent chest compressions without the need for human intervention. However, routine use of mechanical CPR devices has not been shown to improve survival compared to high-quality manual CPR. They may be considered only when manual CPR is unsafe or impractical (e.g., during transport, limited rescuers, or prolonged resuscitation).

Another example is the use of smartphone apps that guides bystanders through the steps of CPR. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these techniques and technologies.

 

What is the success rate of CPR on infants and children?

The success rate of CPR on infants and children is generally higher than that of adults. According to the AHA, the survival rate for infants and children who receive CPR is around 25-30%. However, the success of CPR in this population depends on several factors, including the underlying cause of cardiac arrest and how quickly CPR is initiated.

 

What are the chances of survival after CPR if the person has a pre-existing medical condition?

The chances of survival after CPR depend on the underlying medical condition that led to the cardiac arrest, as well as how quickly CPR is initiated and other factors. In general, survival rates are higher for people who experience cardiac arrest due to a reversible cause, such as a drug overdose or a heart rhythm disturbance. However, the success of CPR in people with pre-existing medical conditions varies widely and depends on many factors.

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In-home OHCA survival

Most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests where CPR is attempted occur in private residential locations like home. Unfortunately, 7 out of 10 Out of OHCA happen at home, lowering the chances of bystanders witnessing it and performing CPR. This explains why the death toll remains so high.

It has also been demonstrated that out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring in public areas are more likely to be associated with initial ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia and have better survival rates than arrests occurring at home.

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How does the use of an AED influence CPR success rates?

An AED significantly improves CPR success rates by delivering a timely shock to restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. For cardiac arrest caused by shockable rhythms (VF/VT), early defibrillation combined with CPR is associated with substantially higher survival to hospital discharge compared with delayed or absent defibrillation.

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What are the common barriers preventing bystanders from performing CPR?

The common barriers preventing bystanders from performing CPR includes:

  1. Fear of causing harm: Concern about injuring the victim.
  2. Lack of knowledge: Uncertainty about how to perform CPR correctly.
  3. Legal concerns: Worry about liability despite Good Samaritan laws.
  4. Emotional distress: Panic or anxiety in emergencies.

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What are the typical neurological outcomes for individuals who survive after receiving CPR?

Among cardiac arrest patients who survive to hospital discharge, approximately 80% are reported to have good neurological outcomes (CPC 1–2). Some individuals make a full recovery, regaining complete cognitive and neurological function. Others may experience mild impairments, such as memory loss or difficulties with attention, which can often improve with rehabilitation. However, in cases where the brain was deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period, severe outcomes like long-term neurological deficits or a vegetative state can occur. Early intervention and high-quality CPR play a critical role in improving these outcomes.

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Where can individuals receive CPR training and certification?

CPR training and certification can be obtained through several accessible options. Online courses, such as those offered by CPR Select, provide a flexible way to learn at your own pace. Local training centers, including the Red Cross and the American Heart Association, offer hands-on instruction to enhance skill retention. Many workplaces organize on-site training programs to ensure employees are prepared for emergencies. Additionally, hospitals, fire departments, and community health organizations frequently hold classes open to the public, making CPR training widely available.

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Take the free CPR, AED & First Aid Practice Test and prepare yourself for the official certification exam.

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CPR is effective for long-term survival outcomes when it is performed immediately after an arrest and doing the procedure correctly. However, not everyone knows how to perform CPR, and those who do starts too late due to fear and hesitation, which lowers the success rate of CPR. There are roughly 350,000 resuscitation attempts outside hospitals each year in the United States, with average survival rates of 5 to 10 percent, and 750,000 attempts in hospitals, with about a 20 percent survival rate. If you want to test your knowledge in CPR, you can take our FREE CPR practice test.

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Disclaimer: Survival statistics and outcome trends summarized above are based on data reported by the American Heart Association and large population-based cardiac arrest studies.

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Sources:

  • American Heart Association. (2021). CPR statistics. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats
  • American Heart Association. (2021). CPR duration: How long should CPR be performed? https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/cpr-faqs/cpr-duration
  • American Heart Association. (2021). CPR statistics. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats

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