per capita

[per kap-i-tuh]

adjective

1. by or for each individual person.

   income per capita.

2. Law.,  noting or pertaining to a method of dividing an estate by which all those equally related to the decedent take equal shares individually without regard to the number of lines of descent.

per capita

/ pə ˈkæpɪtə /

adjective

1. of or for each person

per capita

1. A Latin phrase literally meaning “by heads,” and translated as “for each person.” It is a common unit for expressing data in statistics. A country's per capita personal income, for example, is the average personal income per person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of per capita¹

1675–85; < Latin: literally, by heads

Word History and Origins

Origin of per capita¹

Latin, literally: according to heads

Example Sentences

With a population of around 800,000, Guyana now has one of the highest levels of proven crude oil reserves per capita in the world - and is one of the region's fastest-growing economies.

From BBC

In the context of crime and social disorganization, the U.S. currently has much less violent crime per capita than it did during the 1990s and 1980s.

From Salon

The status quo places L.A. among cities with the highest per capita pedestrian death rates in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Washington DC's homicide rate remains relatively high per capita compared to other US cities, with a total of 98 such killings recorded so far this year.

From BBC

“We have, per capita, some of the most dangerous streets in the country to walk around,” said Michael Schneider of Streets for All.

From Los Angeles Times