Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes was 62,396 number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
62,396 number
Change on year
down 11.9%
World rank
13th
of 166 countries
All-time high
121,300 number
in 1991
All-time low
54,410 number
in 2003
Years of data
10
1991–2018

Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2018

025.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k1991200420181991: 121.3k number1998: 75.7k number1999: 102.8k number2000: 105.1k number2002: 90.5k number2003: 54.4k number2004: 75.3k number2015: 75.0k number2016: 70.8k number2018: 62.4k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 62,396 number, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.9% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 121,300 number in 1991 and was at its lowest, 54,410 number, in 2003.

That places South Africa 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.

Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 121,300 number
1998 75,659 number -37.6%
1999 102,768 number +35.8%
2000 105,103 number +2.3%
2002 90,452 number -13.9%
2003 54,410 number -39.8%
2004 75,266 number +38.3%
2015 75,030 number -0.3%
2016 70,803 number -5.6%
2018 62,396 number -11.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 99,909 number 75,659 number 121,300 number 3
2000s 81,308 number 54,410 number 105,103 number 4
2010s 69,410 number 62,396 number 75,030 number 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 10 Cameroon 80,356 number compare
  2. 11 Bangladesh 74,106 number compare
  3. 12 Burundi 73,363 number compare
  4. 14 Benin 59,742 number compare
  5. 15 Côte d'Ivoire 57,070 number compare
  6. 16 Pakistan 53,959 number compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
Repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 62,396 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 121,300 number in 1991.
What is the lowest repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 54,410 number in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2018.
Is repeaters in grade 5 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. 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 5 of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/repeaters-in-grade-5-of-primary-education-both-sexes-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
166 places, 4,199 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.