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

That’s less than half of Connecticut’s per capita burden. —Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 28 Nov. 2024

Ryan Murphy, communities reporter The brunch per capita index My family moved back to Indianapolis this summer after about five years in Columbus, Ohio. —The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024

From 1960 to the mid-1990s, per capita production rose sharply, peaking at 26.8 pounds per person in 1996. —Jovi Dai, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024

For instance, Spain’s current GDP per capita is a major problem. —Jorge Lluch, Fortune Europe, 26 Nov. 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