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Per Capita Income: Definition, Formula, Calculation

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Synopsis:

Per capita income is one of the most useful economic indicators. It is calculated by dividing the total income generated in a region by the total population of that region. Per capita income is used to assess the economic prosperity of a country, area, or region.
It is used by policymakers to finetune their policies to promote the economic well-being of a country. It is also considered by businesses to understand the purchasing power of people in an area.
That said, it has a few limitations. For example, inflation is not considered while calculating per capita income.

 How is Per Capita Income Calculated?

If you want to understand per capita income calculation, you should first know what it means. Per capita income stands for the average income earned by a person in a country or a region. A region can be a city, a state (like different states of India), or a continent (like Europe or Africa).

To calculate it, we need to divide the total income earned in a country or region by the total  number of people living in that country/region. In total income, we include all kinds of income earned by people in a region, like wages, salaries, rent, business income, or any other source of income.

While calculating per capita income, we include all kinds of individuals in an area, including adults and children, even though children mostly do not earn. Now that you know how to calculate per capita income, let us move to other aspects related to it.

Additional Read: What is Trading Account: Definition, Types & Benefits

What is the Per Capita Income’s Definition?

Per capita income is an economic indicator, which means the amount of income earned per person in a country or a geographic region. In other words, it means on average how much a person living in that country or region earns.

Per capita income is considered a measure of economic well-being of a country. The higher the per capita income of a region, the more prosperous it is assumed to be. To compare the per capita income of two countries, we use the same international currency, like the US Dollar or Euro.

Typically, countries with high inequality have low per capita income. In such countries, most of the income and wealth is with a few people, while the rest of the population earns little, thereby dragging down the average income.

Conversely, countries with more equality tend to have high per capita income. In such regions, income is more or less equally distributed. Having explained the per capita income’s definition, let us discuss its importance.

Importance of Per Capita Income

Per capita income is one of the most important economic indicators to examine the financial well-being of a country/region. Typically, prosperous countries tend to have high per capita income, while economically weaker countries tend to have low per capita income.

Per capita income can also be used to assess the affordability of a country/region. Let us say that a flat costs ₹80 lakhs on an average in a city, which has a per capita income of ₹5 lakhs. Hence, we can say that flats are not affordable in the city.

Often, businesses consider the per capita income of an area before starting their operations there. This helps them understand the purchasing power of the residents of that area.

Per capita income is often considered by the policymakers of a country to make policies that address the prevailing economic issues. For example, if the per capita income of a country is low owing to lack of adequate job opportunities, then policymakers can invite the industries which help improve the economic prosperity of their country.

Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types 

Per Capita Income Formula

The per capita income formula is given below:

Per Capita Income = Total Income of a Country or Region or Area / Total Population of that Country or Region or Area

As discussed above, the total income includes all kinds of income earned by people living in an area. The income can be in the form of salaries, wages, business profits, rental income, dividends, or anything else.

In the total population of a country, we include all the residents of the country, regardless of their nationality. Hence, we include both citizens and non-citizens of a country while calculating per capita income.

Meanwhile, we include people across age groups (children, adults, and seniors). Often, children and seniors do not work and may not have income. Even then, they are included to calculate the per capita income of a country. Now that you know the per capita income formula and per capita income calculation, you must have a better grip on this concept.

Conclusion

If you are about to open a demat account and are going to participate in the Indian stock market, then you should understand how to use per capita income as an economic indicator. More specifically, you should be able to calculate the growth in per capita income by excluding inflation. That will tell you how well the Indian economy is performing. If per capita income grows after excluding the impact of inflation, it shows that people are becoming prosperous, which can be a good sign for the stock market.

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is per capita income’s definition, and why is it important?

Answer Field

Per capita income means on average how much a person living in an area earns. It is one of the most important economic indicators for assessing the financial well-being of a country/region. It helps policymakers devise policies that address the economic issues prevailing in a country.

How to calculate per capita income?

Answer Field

It is calculated by dividing the total income of an area by the total population of that area. All kinds of income earned by people, including salaries, wages, business profits, dividends, etc. are included in total income. All kinds of people residing in a country (citizens, non-citizens, children, and adults) are included in the population of a country.

What data is needed to calculate per capita income?

Answer Field

For per capita income calculation, we need two data points. First, we need the total income generated in an area. Second, we need the total population of that area.

Can per capita income be calculated for different regions or countries?

Answer Field

Yes, we can calculate per capita for different countries or regions. For example, we can calculate the per capita income of India and the US. However, to compare the per capita income of two regions, we need to use the same currency.

What are the limitations of using per capita income as an economic indicator?

Answer Field

Per capita income does not consider inflation. When we calculate the growth in per capita income of an area, we need to remove the impact of inflation to understand the real growth. However, this is not done while calculating per capita income.

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