Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in South Africa
South Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps was 339,638 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in South Africa, 1991–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2023, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in South Africa stood at 339,638.
The figure 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 (number), gaps in South Africa peaked at 889,693 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 230,749, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 20th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 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% |
| 2017 | 615,566 | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 571,199 | -7.2% |
| 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% |
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 | 625,534 | 571,199 | 698,726 | 5 |
| 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, United Republic of 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)
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in South Africa?
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps in South Africa was 339,638 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 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 (number), gaps 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 (number), gaps?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 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 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
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
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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
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.