Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) in South Africa
South Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) was 339,638 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 339,638 for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 47.2% on the previous year and down 51.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 889,693 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 230,749, in 2022.
That places South Africa 20th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 889,693 | — |
| 1998 | 637,772 | -28.3% |
| 1999 | 824,443 | +29.3% |
| 2000 | 654,532 | -20.6% |
| 2001 | 694,156 | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 552,559 | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 389,737 | -29.5% |
| 2004 | 592,581 | +52.0% |
| 2015 | 698,726 | +17.9% |
| 2016 | 659,934 | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 571,199 | -13.4% |
| 2019 | 582,246 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 517,092 | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 354,291 | -31.5% |
| 2022 | 230,749 | -34.9% |
| 2023 | 339,638 | +47.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 339,638 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,758, 123.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 339,638 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 105,251, 3.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 783,969 | 637,772 | 889,693 | 3 |
| 2000s | 576,713 | 389,737 | 694,156 | 5 |
| 2010s | 628,026 | 571,199 | 698,726 | 4 |
| 2020s | 360,442 | 230,749 | 517,092 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 17 Bangladesh 387,056 compare
- 18 Chad 383,767 compare
- 19 Afghanistan 343,942 compare
- 21 Tanzania 331,605 compare
- 22 Mozambique 278,480 compare
- 23 Morocco 266,273 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 primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa?
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa was 339,638 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 889,693 in 1991.
- What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 230,749 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.4%. 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 primary education, all grades, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release