Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes was 137,188 number in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
137,188 number
Change on year
down 20.5%
World rank
10th
of 189 countries
All-time high
226,723 number
in 1991
All-time low
83,391 number
in 2005
Years of data
16
1991–2018

Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2018

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1991200420181991: 226.7k number1998: 179.1k number1999: 188.6k number2000: 112.5k number2001: 110.6k number2002: 118.0k number2003: 89.5k number2004: 129.7k number2005: 83.4k number2009: 180.8k number2010: 162.5k number2013: 188.3k number2014: 201.4k number2015: 167.3k number2016: 172.6k number2018: 137.2k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 137,188 number, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of down 20.5% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 226,723 number in 1991 and was at its lowest, 83,391 number, in 2005.

South Africa ranks 10th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 226,723 number
1998 179,135 number -21.0%
1999 188,596 number +5.3%
2000 112,464 number -40.4%
2001 110,556 number -1.7%
2002 118,010 number +6.7%
2003 89,538 number -24.1%
2004 129,693 number +44.8%
2005 83,391 number -35.7%
2009 180,801 number +116.8%
2010 162,541 number -10.1%
2013 188,291 number +15.8%
2014 201,395 number +7.0%
2015 167,292 number -16.9%
2016 172,599 number +3.2%
2018 137,188 number -20.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 198,151 number 179,135 number 226,723 number 3
2000s 117,779 number 83,391 number 180,801 number 7
2010s 171,551 number 137,188 number 201,395 number 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 7 Burundi 182,632 number compare
  2. 8 Indonesia 165,126 number compare
  3. 9 Cameroon 147,411 number compare
  4. 11 Nepal 135,020 number compare
  5. 12 Iraq 131,708 number compare
  6. 13 Bangladesh 130,594 number compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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 137,188 number in 2018, 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 number in 1991.
What is the lowest repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 83,391 number in 2005.
How does South Africa rank for repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 10th out of 189 countries with data for 2018.
Is repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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.

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Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/repeaters-in-grade-1-of-primary-education-both-sexes-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
189 places, 5,062 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Number of pupils in the specified grade who are enrolled in the same grade for a second (or further) year.