South Africa vs WB: Sub-saharan Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes

South Africa
339,638
in 2023
WB: Sub-saharan Africa
14.43 million
in 2024
South Africa rank
20th
WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank
20th

Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes over time

  • South Africa
  • WB: Sub-saharan Africa
05.0M10.0M15.0M197019972024

How they compare

WB: Sub-saharan Africa currently reports 14.43 million against 339,638 in South Africa, a difference of 14.09 million.

That makes WB: Sub-saharan Africa's figure about 42.5 times South Africa's.

Across all 16 years both countries report, WB: Sub-saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 20th and WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 20th of 205 countries.

WB: Sub-saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa WB: Sub-saharan Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 783,969 8.42 million 7.64 million WB: Sub-saharan Africa
2000s 576,713 10.65 million 10.07 million WB: Sub-saharan Africa
2010s 628,026 12.72 million 12.09 million WB: Sub-saharan Africa
2020s 360,442 13.76 million 13.40 million WB: Sub-saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes, South Africa or WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
WB: Sub-saharan Africa, at 14.43 million against 339,638 in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes between South Africa and WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
14.09 million, with WB: Sub-saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and WB: Sub-saharan Africa?
16 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2023.
How do South Africa and WB: Sub-saharan Africa rank globally for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 20th and WB: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 20th of 205 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs WB: Sub-saharan Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/repeaters-in-primary-education-all-grades-both-sexes-number-2/south-africa/wb-sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
425 places, 16,731 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release