capita

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capita" is correct and usable in written English, particularly in the context of statistics or economics.
It is typically used when referring to a per-person basis, often in phrases like "per capita" to indicate an average per individual in a population. Example: "The income per capita in the country has increased over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The most significant retrenchment programs on a per capita basis have been those of Greece.

The New York Times

Going back decades, such spending had never fallen more than 3 percent per capita in a recession.

The New York Times

Under his long stewardship, Luxembourg became Europe's wealthiest country, one of the richest in the world in per capita terms, as well as a bastion of banking secrecy and a tax haven for multinationals keen to exploit the EU's single market while minimising their contributions to the European exchequer.

The Guardian

But the OBR adds that the "GDP per capita" rate – how much it costs or benefits the individual – is also positive due to the higher employment rate.

The Guardian

Thanks largely to oil and gas (Qatar's natural gas reserves of some 34 trillion cubic metres are the third largest in the world, and it still has 25bn barrels of oil), the tiny Gulf state of 2.2m people has become arguably the richest country in the world, topping the world rankings of GDP per capita.

The Guardian

Yet in per capita terms, Australia is one of the worst offenders.

The Guardian

Its graphic representation consists of a series of three circles, the innermost of which should be occupied by developed countries with absolute, economy-wide targets; the middle one, by emerging economies, with intensity, per capita or relative reduction targets; and the outer circle, by other developing countries, with non-economy-wide targets.

The Guardian

Arve Hansen, research fellow at the Centre for Development and the Environment in Oslo, states that private car ownership in Vietnam is not only important for practical reasons but for cultural reasons as well; in a country with a per capita GDP of $1,900 and an average monthly salary of $185, it is a sign of immense wealth.

The Guardian

Per capita economic output is only around $7,300, even adjusted for the lower cost of living, compared with $22,200 in Poland and around $51,700 in the US.

The Guardian

Fly from Stansted with Ryanair (ryanair.com) 9. SAN SEBASTIáN With more Michelin stars per capita than any other city, San Sebastián on the north coast of Spain is a mecca for foodies, and can be lovely at this time of year, with few tourists and mild weather.

The Guardian - Travel

"With one of the world's highest levels of per capita emissions, Australia has gone from leadership to free-rider status in climate diplomacy," the report said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "per capita", ensure you are comparing averages across different population sizes to provide a standardized metric.

Common error

Avoid using "per capita" when discussing absolute numbers; it's designed for relative comparisons between groups of different sizes.

Linguistic Context

The term "capita" functions primarily as a noun, often used in the phrase "per capita" to indicate a rate or average calculated per person. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a common term in statistics and economics. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its usage in various contexts, mostly in news and media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capita", especially in the phrase "per capita", is a noun used to express a rate or average per person, according to Ludwig. Its primary function is to standardize data for comparisons across different population sizes. Ludwig AI classifies the grammatical status of the term as correct and very common. Predominantly used in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts, it's crucial for providing insights into various metrics relative to population size. While there are alternatives like "per person" or "per head", "per capita" maintains a unique level of precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

per person

Emphasizes the individual count, avoiding the Latin term.

per head

An informal alternative to "per capita", mostly in conversational contexts.

per inhabitant

Specifically refers to people living in a particular place.

on average per person

Clarifies that the figure is an average calculated for each individual.

per resident

Similar to "per inhabitant" but implies a longer-term stay.

individually

Focuses on each person considered separately.

for every individual

Underscores each separate person involved.

for each member

Highlights the distribution to every member of a group.

each

A basic way to describe single elements in an aggregation.

apiece

Suggests a distribution of something to each person involved.

FAQs

What does "per capita" mean?

"Per capita" means "per person", and it's often used in statistics to represent an average amount per individual in a population.

How do I use "per capita" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an average or rate for each person, such as "The gross domestic product per capita is higher in Luxembourg".

What are some alternatives to saying "per capita"?

Alternatives include "per person", "per head", or "individually", depending on the context.

When should I use "per capita" instead of just stating a total?

Use "per capita" when you want to compare rates or amounts between groups of different sizes to provide a standardized measure that accounts for population size.