per capita

adverb or adjective

per cap·​i·​ta (ˌ)pər-ˈka-pə-tə How to pronounce per capita (audio)
Synonyms of per capitanext
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 of per capita

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Among Pennsylvania cities, Pittsburgh had the highest per capita spending on the platform. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 26 June 2026 But in terms of per capita, Vietnam’s love for the dish is unrivaled, with each citizen eating an average of 81 servings per year. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Switzerland has the highest number of Fortune Global 500 companies per capita in the world. — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 12 June 2026 In 2010, Okinawa reportedly had twice as many centenarians per capita as the rest of the country. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for per capita

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, by heads

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of per capita was in 1682

Browse Nearby Words

percaline
per capita
per caput
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Per capita.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20capita. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

per capita

adverb or adjective
per cap·​i·​ta (ˌ)pər-ˈkap-ət-ə How to pronounce per capita (audio)
: by or for each person
per capita income

Legal Definition

per capita

adverb or adjective
per cap·​i·​ta pər-ˈka-pə-tə How to pronounce per capita (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on per capita

Nglish: Translation of per capita for Spanish Speakers

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