adjective

per capita

pur KAP-i-tuh

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Per capita (adjective) means Calculated for each person, by dividing a total figure by the number of people in a population. Example: “Per capita income has risen faster in the cities than in rural areas.”

adjective

Calculated for each person, by dividing a total figure by the number of people in a population.

"Per capita income has risen faster in the cities than in rural areas."

"Qatar has one of the highest per capita emissions figures in the world."

adverb

For each person; measured on a per-person basis.

"Measured per capita, the country spends more on health than any of its neighbours."

How to use per capita

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWorked out as an amount for each person.

When to use it

Standard in economics, statistics and journalism. Usually written without a hyphen, though a hyphen before a noun is acceptable.

Memory tip

Per capita is already plural in Latin, so never write 'per capitas'. Say 'GDP per capita', not 'per capita GDP per person'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

per person per household per diem → median income

Common pairings

per capita income GDP per capita per capita consumption per capita spending

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “per capita” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ income has risen faster in the cities than in rural areas.

Etymology

Latin, literally 'by heads', from per 'by' and capita, plural of caput 'head'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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per head per person average

Related words

mean common beautiful average normal fair medium typical

Rhymes for per capita

ita vita pita Rita tita Lita Sita Kita Anita Evita Akita Narita

See all rhymes for per capita →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between per capita and per person?

They mean the same thing, but per capita is the technical term used when a total is divided by a population to give a statistical average. Per person is the everyday phrasing and is more natural for concrete amounts, such as 'thirty pounds per person'.

What does GDP per capita tell you?

It gives the country's total economic output divided by its population, which makes economies of very different sizes comparable. It says nothing about how that output is distributed, so a country with high GDP per capita can still have widespread poverty.

Is per capita the same as average?

It is a specific kind of average, the mean per head. Like any mean it can be pulled far from typical experience by a small number of very high values, which is why analysts often report the median alongside it.

What is the meaning of per capita?

"per capita" (adjective) means calculated for each person, by dividing a total figure by the number of people in a population.

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