diff --git a/backend/routers/admin.py b/backend/routers/admin.py
index 702c270..34a85a4 100644
--- a/backend/routers/admin.py
+++ b/backend/routers/admin.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, status
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+from sqlalchemy import func, case
 from typing import List
 
 from backend.database import get_db
@@ -20,11 +21,18 @@ def get_users(skip: int = 0, limit: int = 100, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
 
 @router.get("/stats")
 def get_system_stats(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
-    total_users = db.query(User).count()
-    admin_users = db.query(User).filter(User.role == UserRole.ADMIN).count()
+    """
+    Get system statistics.
+    Optimized: Uses a single query with aggregates instead of 3 separate count queries.
+    """
+    stats = db.query(
+        func.count(User.id).label('total_users'),
+        func.sum(case((User.role == UserRole.ADMIN, 1), else_=0)).label('admin_count'),
+        func.sum(case((User.is_active == True, 1), else_=0)).label('active_users')
+    ).first()
     
     return {
-        "total_users": total_users,
-        "admin_count": admin_users,
-        "active_users": db.query(User).filter(User.is_active == True).count(),
+        "total_users": stats.total_users or 0,
+        "admin_count": stats.admin_count or 0,
+        "active_users": stats.active_users or 0,
     }
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8c9c75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[pytest]
+asyncio_mode = auto
+asyncio_default_fixture_loop_scope = function