The dielectric constants of rare-earth oxides (RE2O3) and rare-earth nitrid
es, phosphides, arsenides, and antimonides (REX, RE = rare-earth element, X
= N, P, As, Sb) are quantitatively estimated. The estimation is based on t
he approximately linear relationship between the dielectric constant and th
e atomic number of the constituent atoms. Similar correlations are valid in
nearly all series of related compounds; thus the approach presented here c
an be used as an effective tool in the search for materials with specific p
roperties, e.g, high dielectric constants.