per capita

adverb or adjective

per cap·​i·​ta (ˌ)pər-ˈka-pə-tə 

1

: per unit of population : by or for each person

the highest income per capita of any state in the union

2

: equally to each individual

Synonyms

• all
• apiece
• each
• per

Examples of per capita in a Sentence

we expect the students to receive less funding per capita this year due to a marked increase in the school-age population

Recent Examples on the Web

The state has the highest solar electricity generation per capita in the country, as well as the most solar-industry jobs per capita. —Max Bearak, New York Times, 24 June 2025

Because of our concentration of excellent research universities and academic medical centers, Massachusetts received the highest per capita NIH and NSF funding in the nation in fiscal year 2024. —Alan M. Leventhal, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025

According to the researchers, limiting or eliminating Medicaid provider taxes as well as Medicaid per capita caps and work requirements for Medicaid enrollment would have the worst effects on both factors. —Katharina Buchholz, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Its per capita murder rate is nearly nine times higher than the United States’s and seven times higher than Kenya’s. —Jonny Steinberg, Time, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, by heads

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

per capita

adverb or adjective

per cap·​i·​ta (ˌ)pər-ˈkap-ət-ə 

: by or for each person

per capita income

Legal Definition

per capita

adverb or adjective

per cap·​i·​ta pər-ˈka-pə-tə 

1

: equally to each individual

all property to pass to the descendants per capita

—used of a method of distributing an especially intestate estate compare per stirpes

Note: Per capita distribution of an estate provides each descendant with an equal share of the estate's assets regardless of the degree of his or her kinship. Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., all receive equal shares.

2

: per unit of population : by or for each individual

a high per capita tax burden

Etymology

Medieval Latin, by heads