Per Capita
Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning “for each person” or “by the head.” It is used to describe a measure of the average amount per person in a given population. It is commonly used to measure the average income, wealth, or expenditure of a population. It is also used to measure the average number of people in a given population, such as the number of people per square mile. Per capita is a useful measure for comparing the economic and social conditions of different populations.
History of Per Capita
The term per capita was first used in the late 17th century. It was used to describe the average amount of money that each person in a given population had. This measure was used to compare the wealth of different populations. In the 19th century, the term was used to measure the average number of people in a given population. This measure was used to compare the population density of different areas.
In the 20th century, the term was used to measure the average income, wealth, or expenditure of a population. This measure was used to compare the economic and social conditions of different populations. It is still used today to measure the average amount per person in a given population.
Table of Comparisons
| Country | Per Capita Income (USD) |
|---|---|
| United States | $59,531 |
| China | $10,220 |
| India | $2,170 |
Summary
Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning “for each person” or “by the head.” It is used to measure the average amount per person in a given population. It is commonly used to measure the average income, wealth, or expenditure of a population. It is also used to measure the average number of people in a given population, such as the number of people per square mile. Per capita is a useful measure for comparing the economic and social conditions of different populations. For more information about this term, you can visit websites such as Investopedia, World Bank, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
See Also
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- Gross National Product (GNP)
- Gini Coefficient
- Human Development Index (HDI)
- Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
- Income Inequality
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Unemployment Rate
- Poverty Rate
- Life Expectancy
