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

• 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

Southern California’s Metropolitan Water District customers, which serves Los Angeles, use an average of 114 gallons per capita per day. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025

Once seen as one of the Bay Area’s last affordable cities, San Leandro now faces one of the highest rates of eviction notices per capita as officials grapple with the end of pandemic-era renter protections. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

According to Business Insider, Wisconsin ranks third and Iowa sixth in bars per capita. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

The data from the first half of 2025 shows non-gaming spending per capita dropped by nearly 13%. —Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Oct. 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