Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

MDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps was 14.43 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
14.43 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
Rank
18th
of 220 groups
All-time high
14.43 million
in 2024
All-time low
3.48 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024

2.5M5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M15.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa stood at 14.43 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 14.43 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.48 million, in 1971.

That places MDG: Sub-saharan Africa 18th out of 220 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.

Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps filled in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 3.68 million
1971 3.48 million -5.6%
1972 3.60 million +3.6%
1973 3.76 million +4.5%
1974 3.93 million +4.3%
1975 4.00 million +2.0%
1976 4.23 million +5.6%
1977 4.49 million +6.2%
1978 4.56 million +1.6%
1979 5.02 million +10.0%
1980 5.55 million +10.5%
1981 5.79 million +4.3%
1982 6.12 million +5.8%
1983 6.21 million +1.5%
1984 6.28 million +1.1%
1985 6.31 million +0.4%
1986 6.58 million +4.3%
1987 6.80 million +3.4%
1988 7.03 million +3.3%
1989 7.24 million +3.0%
1990 7.13 million -1.4%
1991 7.35 million +3.1%
1992 7.06 million -3.9%
1993 7.22 million +2.2%
1994 7.92 million +9.7%
1995 8.24 million +4.1%
1996 8.12 million -1.5%
1997 8.48 million +4.4%
1998 8.83 million +4.1%
1999 9.10 million +3.0%
2000 9.49 million +4.4%
2001 10.24 million +7.9%
2002 10.78 million +5.3%
2003 11.08 million +2.8%
2004 11.67 million +5.3%
2005 11.02 million -5.6%
2006 11.24 million +2.0%
2007 11.69 million +4.1%
2008 11.83 million +1.2%
2009 12.31 million +4.1%
2010 12.24 million -0.6%
2011 12.34 million +0.9%
2012 12.91 million +4.6%
2013 13.07 million +1.2%
2014 12.80 million -2.1%
2015 12.59 million -1.6%
2016 12.65 million +0.5%
2017 12.84 million +1.5%
2018 12.89 million +0.4%
2019 12.75 million -1.1%
2020 13.09 million +2.7%
2021 13.56 million +3.6%
2022 14.18 million +4.6%
2023 14.21 million +0.2%
2024 14.43 million +1.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.08 million 3.48 million 5.02 million 10
1980s 6.39 million 5.55 million 7.24 million 10
1990s 7.95 million 7.06 million 9.10 million 10
2000s 11.14 million 9.49 million 12.31 million 10
2010s 12.71 million 12.24 million 13.07 million 10
2020s 13.89 million 13.09 million 14.43 million 5

Countries ranked near MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

  1. 15 Pakistan 440,233 compare
  2. 16 United States of America 419,732 compare
  3. 17 Bangladesh 387,056 compare
  4. 18 Chad 383,767 compare
  5. 19 Afghanistan 343,942 compare
  6. 20 South Africa 339,638 compare
  7. 21 Tanzania, United Republic of 331,605 compare

See the full ranking of 425 places →

More education data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa

All data for MDG: Sub-saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 14.43 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 14.43 million in 2024.
What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps recorded in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.48 million in 1971.
How does MDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps?
MDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 18th out of 220 groups with data for 2024.
Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps rising or falling in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this MDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in MDG: Sub-saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/repeaters-in-primary-education-all-grades-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/mdg-sub-saharan-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) with 748 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
425 places, 17,479 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number) with 748 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.