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

Cape Coral, North Port and Lakeland, all in Florida, are projected to lead large metros this year in total new units permitted per capita. Between the lines: A cascade of new apartments, financed when interest rates were lower, helped recently to slow rent growth across the nation. —Kavya Beheraj, Axios, 18 July 2024

The cost of raising a child to age 18 in China is 6.3 times higher than the country’s GDP per capita. —Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 17 July 2024

Iowa ranks near the bottom of all states for obstetrician-gynecologists per capita. —Tony Leys | Kff Health News, ABC News, 17 July 2024

From 2004 to 2019, Ethiopia’s per capita GDP rose by nearly 200 percent, and its economy grew roughly ten percent per year. —Mark Suzman, Foreign Affairs, 11 July 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