Botswana vs South Africa: Persistence to grade 5, total

Botswana
96.3%
in 2012
South Africa
97.1%
in 2022
Botswana rank
50th
South Africa rank
47th

Persistence to grade 5, total over time

  • Botswana
  • South Africa
020406080100197019962022

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 97.1% against 96.3% in Botswana, a difference of 0.8%.

Across all 6 years both countries report, Botswana has been ahead every year.

Botswana ranks 50th and South Africa ranks 47th of 164 countries.

Botswana has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Botswana South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 89.5% 72.9% 16.6% Botswana
2000s 89.3% 84.2% 5.1% Botswana

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher persistence to grade 5, total, Botswana or South Africa?
South Africa, at 97.1% against 96.3% in Botswana as of 2022.
What is the difference in persistence to grade 5, total between Botswana and South Africa?
0.8%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and South Africa?
6 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2003.
How do Botswana and South Africa rank globally for persistence to grade 5, total?
Botswana ranks 50th and South Africa ranks 47th of 164 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Persistence to grade 5, total (% of cohort). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Botswana vs South Africa: Persistence to grade 5, total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/persistence-to-grade-5-total-percent-of-cohort/botswana/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Persistence to grade 5, total (% of cohort)
Unit
% of cohort
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
176 places, 3,790 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Persistence to grade 5 (percentage of cohort reaching grade 5) is the share of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach grade 5. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.