Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, female was 23,062 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, female in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female in South Africa is 23,062, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.0% on the previous year and down 70.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 97,426 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 23,062, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 29th of 199 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, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 97,426 | — |
| 1998 | 77,298 | -20.7% |
| 1999 | 88,635 | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 46,719 | -47.3% |
| 2001 | 55,519 | +18.8% |
| 2002 | 55,961 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 44,654 | -20.2% |
| 2004 | 59,225 | +32.6% |
| 2005 | 39,455 | -33.4% |
| 2009 | 82,998 | +110.4% |
| 2010 | 70,659 | -14.9% |
| 2013 | 77,086 | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 83,142 | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 66,029 | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 67,487 | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 53,653 | -20.5% |
| 2019 | 47,496 | -11.5% |
| 2020 | 38,695 | -18.5% |
| 2021 | 28,953 | -25.2% |
| 2022 | 27,144 | -6.2% |
| 2023 | 23,062 | -15.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 87,786 | 77,298 | 97,426 | 3 |
| 2000s | 54,933 | 39,455 | 82,998 | 7 |
| 2010s | 66,507 | 47,496 | 83,142 | 7 |
| 2020s | 29,464 | 23,062 | 38,695 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 26 Zambia 23,534 compare
- 27 Iran, Islamic Republic of 23,395 compare
- 28 Tanzania, United Republic of 23,197 compare
- 30 Afghanistan 22,150 compare
- 31 Sierra Leone 20,176 compare
- 32 Philippines 20,093 compare
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, female in South Africa?
- Repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female in South Africa was 23,062 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 97,426 in 1991.
- What is the lowest repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,062 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is repeaters in grade 1 of primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.1%. 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, female (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