per capita

USAGE SUMMARY

"per capita" is an expression that is used in written English.
It is often used to describe the average per person rate of something, such as population density or income. For example, "The per capita income of the United Kingdom is one of the highest in Europe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Per capita means per person.

HuffPost

"Per capita, we are behind in wealth.

The Economist

Per capita income has tripled.

The New York Times

Per capita GNP is $240 a year.

The New Yorker

Per capita income had been declining.

The New York Times

Per capita, the financial cost is enormous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Per-capita emissions were actually unchanged.

The New York Times

The per-capita figures are worse.

The New Yorker

Per-capita murder rate too high?

The New York Times

Per-capita calculations are key.

The Guardian

The worldwide per-capita figure is $12.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always specify the units you are measuring "per capita" with (e.g., "per capita income", "per capita consumption"). This prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "per capita" when the denominator is not a population. For example, don't say "per capita sales" if you're referring to sales per employee; instead, clarify the denominator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "per capita" functions as an adverb or adjective, modifying nouns or verbs to indicate a rate or quantity "per person". As shown in Ludwig, it is commonly used in economics and statistics to standardize data across different population sizes. The Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "per capita" is a versatile phrase used to express rates or quantities "per person", primarily for comparative analysis. Ludwig's analysis confirms it's grammatically sound and widely accepted. Its usage spans across various domains, from news and academia to science and business. Given its frequency and utility, mastering its application enhances precision in writing. Remember to define the population and units clearly to avoid ambiguity. As shown by Ludwig, "per capita" is a useful tool for comparing data across different population sizes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for each person

Emphasizes the distribution or allocation to every individual.

per person basis

Highlights the calculation or assessment from the viewpoint of a single person.

for every individual

Stresses that each person receives equal consideration.

individually

Focuses on each entity separately, rather than as a group.

on an individual basis

Implies a customized or specific approach for each person.

per member

Refers to the distribution among the members of a specific group.

each

A shorter term indicating that something is considered one by one.

pro rata

Highlights the proportional distribution based on a specific rate or amount.

for one

Emphasizes something calculated or allocated for a single person

by person

Expresses the calculation on a person-by-person basis.

FAQs

How is "per capita" used in a sentence?

The phrase "per capita" is used to describe an amount "per person". For example, "The country's "per capita income" has increased significantly this year".

What does "per capita" mean?

"Per capita" means "for each person". It's often used in statistics to present data in terms of individual people rather than the total population, such as "per capita GDP".

What are some alternatives to "per capita"?

Alternatives to "per capita" include "for each person", "per person basis", or "individually", depending on the specific context. These phrases convey the same idea of distribution or measurement relative to the population size.

Is it better to use "per capita" or "total" figures?

Whether to use "per capita" or "total" figures depends on what you want to highlight. Total figures show overall amounts, while "per capita" figures adjust for population size, allowing for comparisons between groups of different sizes. For example, "per capita emissions" provides a more accurate reflection than total emissions when comparing countries with different populations.