Eswatini vs South Africa: Persistence to grade 5, total

Eswatini
97.3%
in 2018
South Africa
97.1%
in 2022
Eswatini rank
45th
South Africa rank
47th

Persistence to grade 5, total over time

  • Eswatini
  • South Africa
020406080100197019962022

How they compare

Eswatini currently reports 97.3% against 97.1% in South Africa, a difference of 0.2%.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 8 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Eswatini ahead.

Eswatini ranks 45th and South Africa ranks 47th of 164 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Eswatini averaged higher in 2 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Eswatini South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 80.1% 72.9% 7.2% Eswatini
2000s 75.1% 85.1% 10.0% South Africa
2010s 96.3% 91.9% 4.4% Eswatini

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher persistence to grade 5, total, Eswatini or South Africa?
Eswatini, at 97.3% against 97.1% in South Africa as of 2018.
What is the difference in persistence to grade 5, total between Eswatini and South Africa?
0.2%, with Eswatini ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Eswatini and South Africa?
8 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2018.
How do Eswatini and South Africa rank globally for persistence to grade 5, total?
Eswatini ranks 45th 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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Eswatini vs South Africa: Persistence to grade 5, total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/persistence-to-grade-5-total-percent-of-cohort/eswatini/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.