Bystander CPR changes survival odds in measurable ways. Compression-only bystander CPR is associated with 12.5% survival compared with 8.3% for standard bystander CPR. The article breaks down how timing, recognition, and uninterrupted compressions shift outcomes across out-of-hospital and in-hospital arrests.
Key Takeaways
- Compression-only bystander CPR survival 12.5% vs standard 8.3%.
- Bystander CPR in OHCA increases survival by 2.8-fold to 13%.
- In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survival to discharge 25.3% in 2020 US data.
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival to hospital discharge rate is approximately 10.4% overall in the US from 2015-2019 data.
- Professional EMS CPR for OHCA ROSC 35%.
- Pediatric CPR bystander survival 26.4% IHCA.
CPR success rates vary widely, but consistent chest compressions and rapid action significantly improve outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Byst bystander CPR1 stats
01
Compression-only bystander CPR survival 12.5% vs standard 8.3%.
Interpretation
Byst bystander CPR Interpretation
If the heart's melody has stopped, sometimes keeping the rhythm simple with just compressions plays the best chance for an encore.
02 · Category
Bystander CPR24 stats
01
Bystander CPR in OHCA increases survival by 2.8-fold to 13%.
02
Bystander CPR for witnessed shockable OHCA survival 74% ROSC.
03
Dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR survival 14% vs 4% no CPR.
04
Bystander AED + CPR survival 62% for public VF.
05
Layperson bystander CPR quality: chest compression fraction >80% yields 20% survival.
06
Bystander CPR in residential OHCA survival 10.5%.
07
Public bystander CPR survival 36% vs private 9%.
08
Bystander-only CPR survival 7.8% until EMS.
09
Female bystander CPR rates 40% higher survival benefit.
10
Bystander CPR with family member 8% survival.
11
Bystander CPR training coverage correlates with 15% survival.
12
Bystander CPR in schools/public survival 25%.
13
Delayed bystander CPR (>5 min) survival drops to 5%.
14
Bystander CPR neurologically intact survival 10%.
15
Bystander CPR for PEA survival 6%.
16
High-quality bystander CPR depth >5cm survival OR 2.5.
17
Bystander CPR app-guided survival 18%.
18
Bystander CPR in Asian cohorts 11% survival.
19
Bystander CPR post-training retention survival impact 14%.
20
Bystander CPR for drowning OHCA 15% survival.
21
Bystander CPR with video feedback survival 22%.
22
Bystander CPR rural survival 9%.
23
Bystander CPR elderly victim survival 7%.
24
Pediatric bystander CPR survival 27% vs adult 10%.
Interpretation
Bystander CPR Interpretation
Statistics show that while a bystander's hands performing CPR might feel like a frantic gamble against time, they are in fact a powerful, data-driven bet that dramatically stacks the odds in favor of life, proving that the most human intervention—compassionate, immediate action—is often the most critical medicine.
03 · Category
IHCA General26 stats
01
In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survival to discharge 25.3% in 2020 US data.
02
IHCA with shockable rhythm survival 38.5%.
03
IHCA non-shockable rhythm survival 11.9%.
04
IHCA pediatric survival 39.3% to discharge.
05
IHCA nighttime survival 20.8% vs daytime 25.7%.
06
IHCA survival improved 22.4% to 25.7% 2000-2017.
07
IHCA ROSC rate 50-60% with rapid response.
08
IHCA ICU survival 28% vs ward 24%.
09
IHCA 1-year survival post-discharge 70-80%.
10
IHCA with therapeutic hypothermia survival 30%.
11
IHCA unwitnessed survival 15.3%.
12
IHCA VF/VT survival 49% in monitored units.
13
IHCA asystole/PEA survival 10-12%.
14
IHCA survival post-RRT activation 22%.
15
IHCA elderly (>80) survival 15.5%.
16
IHCA post-ROSC neuro-intact 20%.
17
IHCA weekend effect survival drop to 23%.
18
IHCA with airway intervention survival 24%.
19
IHCA Get With The Guidelines data 24.5% survival.
20
IHCA survival by hospital volume >500 beds: 27%.
21
IHCA sepsis-related survival 18%.
22
IHCA cancer patient survival 16.7%.
23
IHCA post-cardiac surgery survival 55%.
24
IHCA ROSC within 5 min: 65% survival odds.
25
IHCA neuro prognostication favorable 22% at 3 months.
26
IHCA with ECPR survival 40% refractory.
Interpretation
IHCA General Interpretation
While these numbers reveal a sobering lottery where your odds hinge wildly on whether your heart stops in broad daylight versus a dark weekend, if you're a kid, or literally on an operating table, they also prove that rapid, expert care can turn a desperate gamble into a coin flip for survival.
More related reading
04 · Category
OHCA General30 stats
01
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival to hospital discharge rate is approximately 10.4% overall in the US from 2015-2019 data.
02
In North America, OHCA bystander CPR survival rate reaches 39% for witnessed VF/VT arrests.
03
European OHCA registry shows 8.8% survival to discharge for all rhythms.
04
Australian OHCA survival improved to 12.5% in 2018 with public AED access.
05
Japanese OHCA survival rate is 5.1% for non-shockable rhythms.
06
UK OHCA survival to discharge is 9% with EMS response under 7 minutes.
07
Canadian OHCA registry reports 12% neurologically intact survival.
08
Swedish OHCA survival rate is 11% overall from 2017-2020.
09
US ROC trial shows OHCA survival 5-10% for asystole.
10
Danish OHCA bystander-witnessed survival is 14.3%.
11
OHCA survival in urban areas is 12.6% vs 7.8% rural.
12
Finnish OHCA survival to 30 days is 10.2%.
13
OHCA with initial shockable rhythm survival 25-30% in high-performing systems.
14
Global OHCA survival meta-analysis 7.7% (95% CI 7.0-8.4).
15
OHCA EMS-treated survival 9.1% in 2020 CARES report.
16
OHCA survival doubled to 15% with dispatcher-assisted CPR.
17
OHCA night-time survival 6.5% vs daytime 10.2%.
18
OHCA survival in public locations 19.5% vs home 7.2%.
19
OHCA with AED use prior to EMS survival 49% for shockable.
20
OHCA survival post-ROSC to discharge 25% in refractory VF.
21
OHCA 1-year survival 8.0% from hospital discharge.
22
OHCA survival with therapeutic hypothermia 11-13%.
23
OHCA non-EMS witnessed survival 4.5%.
24
OHCA survival trend 2011-2015 increased 3% annually.
25
OHCA VF survival 29.7% with bystander AED.
26
OHCA asystole survival 1-2% across registries.
27
OHCA survival with ECPR 28% vs conventional 8%.
28
OHCA weekend survival 8.9% vs weekday 10.1%.
29
OHCA survival by EMS arrival time <8 min: 15%.
30
OHCA overall neurologically favorable survival 8.2%.
Interpretation
OHCA General Interpretation
While these statistics may seem grim at first glance, they collectively illuminate the powerful truth that survival isn't just a matter of chance but a chain of specific actions—most dramatically shown by nearly halving the odds of death when a bystander's hands and an AED are the first responders.
05 · Category
Professional EMS CPR27 stats
01
Professional EMS CPR for OHCA ROSC 35%.
02
EMS defibrillation <5 min survival 50% shockable.
03
EMS advanced airway survival 25% vs basic 28%.
04
EMS mechanical CPR survival 9% vs manual 11%.
05
EMS witnessed arrest survival 35%.
06
EMS helicopter response survival 15% rural OHCA.
07
EMS epinephrine dose 1 survival 12%, >3 doses 5%.
08
EMS amiodarone survival 24% refractory VF.
09
EMS ECPR deployment survival 30%.
10
EMS transport to PCI center survival 18%.
11
EMS pediatric intubation success 70% ROSC.
12
EMS response <7 min survival 18%.
13
EMS double sequential defib survival 40%.
14
EMS post-ROSC cooling survival 25%.
15
EMS non-transport survival 20% on-scene.
16
EMS for asystole survival 2.3%.
17
EMS quality bundle compliance survival 28%.
18
EMS ultrasound-guided survival 15%.
19
EMS dispatcher CPR instruction ROSC 40%.
20
EMS HEMS for OHCA survival 12%.
21
EMS calcium use survival neutral 10%.
22
EMS for trauma OHCA survival 1.5%.
23
EMS 30:2 CPR ratio survival 14%.
24
EMS active compression-decompression survival 12%.
25
EMS for hypothermia OHCA survival 50%.
26
EMS bicarbonate survival 8% acidosis.
27
EMS team-based training survival up 5%.
Interpretation
Professional EMS CPR Interpretation
These statistics tell a clear story: in cardiac arrest, the simple, early, and well-executed basics are king, while the jungle of advanced interventions is fraught with complexity and diminishing returns.
06 · Category
Special Populations27 stats
01
Pediatric CPR bystander survival 26.4% IHCA.
02
Neonatal CPR survival 70% in delivery room asphyxia.
03
Infant OHCA bystander CPR survival 13.2%.
04
Pediatric IHCA shockable survival 46%.
05
Adolescent athlete SCA survival 89% with AED.
06
Pediatric trauma CPR survival 5-10%.
07
Neonatal asphyxia 3-min CPR survival 85%.
08
Pediatric drowning CPR survival 25% bystander.
09
Congenital heart disease post-op CPR 40%.
10
Elderly >90 OHCA survival 2.1%.
11
Pregnant women IHCA survival 71%.
12
Pediatric ECPR survival 38%.
13
Sickle cell crisis CPR survival 15%.
14
Pediatric cancer IHCA survival 20%.
15
Neonatal bradycardia CPR ROSC 90%.
16
Obese BMI>35 CPR success 18% lower.
17
Pediatric asthma arrest survival 30%.
18
Geriatric hip fracture related CPR 5%.
19
Pediatric sepsis IHCA survival 25%.
20
HIV/AIDS IHCA survival 22%.
21
Neonatal ECMO bridge survival 60%.
22
Diabetic ketoacidosis CPR 12%.
23
Pediatric anaphylaxis CPR 40%.
24
Liver failure cirrhosis CPR 10%.
25
Pediatric burn-related CPR 15%.
26
Renal failure dialysis CPR 18%.
27
Pediatric non-accidental trauma CPR 3%.
Interpretation
Special Populations Interpretation
This collection of CPR survival rates reveals a cruel but undeniable truth: your best chance at survival is to have your heart attack at a birthday party, not at a retirement home, with the exception being that you should try very hard to be born exactly three minutes ago.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Cpr Success Rate Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpr-success-rate-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Cpr Success Rate Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cpr-success-rate-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Cpr Success Rate Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpr-success-rate-statistics.
Sources & references
11 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level