Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male was 17.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male 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, male in South Africa stood at 17.2%.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male in South Africa peaked at 22.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 184 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.3% | — |
| 2001 | 6.0% | -68.8% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +27.4% |
| 2003 | 13.6% | +76.8% |
| 2015 | 15.3% | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 17.5% | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 22.0% | +25.7% |
| 2019 | 20.0% | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 13.1% | -34.5% |
| 2021 | 16.4% | +24.8% |
| 2022 | 17.2% | +4.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9%, 18.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.1%, 1.6× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 19.3% | 19.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 6.0% | 13.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 15.3% | 22.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 13.1% | 17.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 19 Benin 18.1% compare
- 20 Sao Tome and Principe 17.7% compare
- 21 Guyana 17.4% compare
- 23 Central African Republic 16.5% compare
- 24 Burkina Faso 16.2% compare
- 25 Suriname 15.9% compare
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, male in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male in South Africa was 17.2% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 184 countries with data for 2022.
- Is repetition rate in grade 1 of lower secondary general education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release