cápita

Cápita is a statistical term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote an average measure calculated per person within a population. It is commonly employed in economics, demography, and public policy to compare indicators such as income, consumption, or production across countries or regions. The word derives from Latin caput, meaning head, and the phrase per capita literally means “by heads” or “per person.” In practice, a cápita value is obtained by dividing a total value by the number of inhabitants.

Examples include gross domestic product per cápita, income per cápita, or health expenditure per cápita. These figures allow for comparative analysis by normalizing large differences in population size, facilitating cross-country or over-time comparisons of living standards, consumption, or economic activity.

Limitations should be noted: a cápita figure represents an average and can conceal within-population inequality, regional disparities, or demographic structure, such as age distribution. Consequently, a high per-cápita value might reflect concentration among a small segment of the population, while a low value might indicate poverty or large population size. It does not measure distribution, poverty rates, or the dispersion of income and resources.

Statistical reports may also adjust cápita figures for purchasing power parity (PPP) or local price levels to improve international comparability. The concept is widely used in economic analysis and is found in similar forms in Spanish and Portuguese-language data presentations.