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

Recent Examples on the Web

Idaho already has the lowest number of active physicians per capita in the country. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024

Last year, real per capita income rose by 6 percent, more than double the growth rate in 2022, when the country was in lockdown, and per capita consumption climbed by 9 percent. —Nicholas R. Lardy, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024

Using a weighted ranking, some of the factors included mental health counselors per capita, cost of medical visit, health insurance coverage for adults and youth, and percentage of adults eating fewer than one serving of fruits and vegetable per day. —Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024

There is more food waste per capita in households that are located in typically hotter countries around the world, the report states. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024

According to the most recent data, California counties with the highest per capita rates of tuberculosis are generally along populous coastal areas. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Industrialized countries like the United States, which became economic superpowers by emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases, are still the world’s biggest per capita producers and consumers of fossil fuels. —Max Bearak, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

According to the World Bank, China’s gross domestic product per capita has stagnated at about $12,700 (compared with more than $76,000 in the United States). —Christina Knight, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024

The study examined 100 of the U.S's largest metros and considered their unemployment rates, population growth, GDP per capita, new business creation and business tax climate. —Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

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