Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes was 68,608 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa stood at 68,608.
That represents a change of up 26.4% on the previous year and down 63.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 226,723 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 54,288, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 226,723 | — |
| 1998 | 179,135 | -21.0% |
| 1999 | 188,596 | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 112,464 | -40.4% |
| 2001 | 110,556 | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 118,010 | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 89,538 | -24.1% |
| 2004 | 129,693 | +44.8% |
| 2005 | 83,391 | -35.7% |
| 2009 | 180,801 | +116.8% |
| 2010 | 162,541 | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 188,291 | +15.8% |
| 2014 | 201,395 | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 167,292 | -16.9% |
| 2016 | 172,599 | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 137,188 | -20.5% |
| 2019 | 134,709 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 112,579 | -16.4% |
| 2021 | 80,831 | -28.2% |
| 2022 | 54,288 | -32.8% |
| 2023 | 68,608 | +26.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 198,151 | 179,135 | 226,723 | 3 |
| 2000s | 117,779 | 83,391 | 180,801 | 7 |
| 2010s | 166,288 | 134,709 | 201,395 | 7 |
| 2020s | 79,076 | 54,288 | 112,579 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 68,608 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 226,723 in 1991.
- What is the lowest repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 54,288 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release