what does per capita means
Per capita is a Latin prepositional phrase: per (preposition, taking the accusative case, meaning âby, by means ofâ) and capita (accusative plural of the noun caput, âheadâ).The phrase thus means âby headsâ or âfor each headâ, i.e., per individual/person.The term is used in a wide variety of social sciences and statistical research contexts, including government statistics, economic indicators, and built environment studies.he phrase thus means âby headsâ or âfor each headâ, i.e., per individual/person. The term is used in a wide variety of social sciences and statistical research contexts, including government statistics, economic indicators, and built environment studies.