Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia
South Asia: Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes was 1.74 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia stood at 1.74 million number. That is the lowest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is down 29.9% on the previous year and down 81.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia peaked at 13.71 million number in 1973 and was at its lowest, 1.74 million number, in 2019.
That places South Asia 25th out of 42 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13.37 million number | — |
| 1971 | 13.54 million number | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 13.44 million number | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 13.71 million number | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 13.13 million number | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 12.88 million number | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 12.40 million number | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 12.00 million number | -3.3% |
| 1978 | 11.08 million number | -7.6% |
| 1979 | 10.62 million number | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 10.17 million number | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 9.72 million number | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 9.08 million number | -6.6% |
| 1983 | 8.55 million number | -5.9% |
| 1984 | 7.84 million number | -8.2% |
| 1985 | 6.95 million number | -11.4% |
| 1986 | 6.17 million number | -11.2% |
| 1987 | 5.18 million number | -16.1% |
| 1988 | 5.50 million number | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 5.67 million number | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 5.87 million number | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 6.00 million number | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 6.09 million number | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 6.22 million number | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 6.34 million number | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 6.35 million number | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 6.51 million number | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 6.62 million number | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 6.69 million number | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 6.83 million number | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 7.24 million number | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 6.64 million number | -8.2% |
| 2002 | 6.78 million number | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 7.21 million number | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 7.66 million number | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 8.09 million number | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 8.15 million number | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 8.92 million number | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 8.87 million number | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 9.55 million number | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 10.16 million number | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 10.26 million number | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 6.72 million number | -34.5% |
| 2013 | 5.70 million number | -15.2% |
| 2014 | 4.24 million number | -25.7% |
| 2015 | 3.18 million number | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 2.85 million number | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 2.69 million number | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 2.47 million number | -8.0% |
| 2019 | 1.74 million number | -29.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.62 million number | 10.62 million number | 13.71 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.48 million number | 5.18 million number | 10.17 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.35 million number | 5.87 million number | 6.83 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.91 million number | 6.64 million number | 9.55 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.00 million number | 1.74 million number | 10.26 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 119.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 119.2% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 118.8% (2024)
- Labor force, total 709.68 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia?
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes in South Asia was 1.74 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.71 million number in 1973.
- What is the lowest repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.74 million number in 2019.
- How does South Asia rank for repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes?
- South Asia ranks 25th out of 42 groups with data for 2019.
- Is repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.