Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes was 571,199 number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa, 1991–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa is 571,199 number, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.4% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 889,693 number in 1991 and was at its lowest, 389,737 number, in 2003.
That places South Africa 11th out of 190 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 889,693 number | — |
| 1998 | 637,772 number | -28.3% |
| 1999 | 824,443 number | +29.3% |
| 2000 | 654,532 number | -20.6% |
| 2001 | 694,156 number | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 552,559 number | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 389,737 number | -29.5% |
| 2004 | 592,581 number | +52.0% |
| 2015 | 698,726 number | +17.9% |
| 2016 | 659,934 number | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 571,199 number | -13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 783,969 number | 637,772 number | 889,693 number | 3 |
| 2000s | 576,713 number | 389,737 number | 694,156 number | 5 |
| 2010s | 643,286 number | 571,199 number | 698,726 number | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More education data for South Africa
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (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 571,199 number in 2018, 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 number in 1991.
- What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 389,737 number in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 190 countries with data for 2018.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. 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
Number of pupils enrolled in the same grade for a second (or further) year.