Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa

South Africa: Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes was 43,759 number in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
43,759 number
Change on year
down 23.2%
World rank
2nd
of 32 countries
All-time high
86,595 number
in 1999
All-time low
30,609 number
in 2003
Years of data
10
1991–2018

Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2018

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1991200420181991: 70.8k number1998: 45.2k number1999: 86.6k number2000: 52.6k number2002: 34.6k number2003: 30.6k number2004: 53.5k number2015: 62.8k number2016: 56.9k number2018: 43.8k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 43,759 number, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of down 23.2% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 86,595 number in 1999 and was at its lowest, 30,609 number, in 2003.

South Africa ranks 2nd of 32 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes (number) in South Africa, 1991 to 2018.
Year number Change
1991 70,794 number
1998 45,185 number -36.2%
1999 86,595 number +91.6%
2000 52,580 number -39.3%
2002 34,574 number -34.2%
2003 30,609 number -11.5%
2004 53,516 number +74.8%
2015 62,804 number +17.4%
2016 56,946 number -9.3%
2018 43,759 number -23.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 67,525 number 45,185 number 86,595 number 3
2000s 42,820 number 30,609 number 53,516 number 4
2010s 54,503 number 43,759 number 62,804 number 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Mozambique 55,022 number compare
  2. 3 Uganda 34,469 number compare
  3. 4 Zambia 26,283 number compare
  4. 5 Argentina 12,528 number compare

See the full ranking of 32 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
Repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 43,759 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 86,595 number in 1999.
What is the lowest repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 30,609 number in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes?
South Africa ranks 2nd out of 32 countries with data for 2018.
Is repeaters in grade 7 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. 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 7 of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Repeaters in Grade 7 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-7-of-primary-education-both-sexes-number/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Repeaters in Grade 7 of primary education, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
32 places, 620 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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