Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both was 12.2% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa stood at 12.2%.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa peaked at 18.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 31st out of 190 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18.5% | — |
| 1998 | 16.9% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 16.5% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | -66.8% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | +23.3% |
| 2003 | 12.7% | +87.9% |
| 2015 | 12.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 13.8% | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 16.9% | +22.8% |
| 2019 | 15.2% | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -34.1% |
| 2021 | 11.9% | +18.5% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | +3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.8%, 15.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.9%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.3% | 16.5% | 18.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 8.3% | 5.5% | 12.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 14.7% | 12.7% | 16.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 10.0% | 12.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa was 12.2% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. 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 Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release