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 of per capita

• a shot
• each
• per
• a pop

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

This Phoenix suburb ranks high for its range of adult volunteer activities, art galleries and golf courses per capita. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 30 Nov. 2025

Last year, Floripa was named the Startup Capital of Brazil, with more tech businesses per capita than anywhere else in the country. —Carla Vianna, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025

Trends move at breakneck speed and consumers spend more per capita on beauty than in any other country, according to South Korean research firm KOISRA. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2025

While the state produces the fifth-highest number of patents per capita in the nation, patent activity has dropped off over the last decade, putting Minnesota in 47th for patent growth over the last decade, per the report. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 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