Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes was 6.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 6.3%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.5% on the previous year and down 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 16.5% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 49th out of 199 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15.8% | — |
| 1998 | 13.1% | -17.5% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | -36.0% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | +22.5% |
| 2001 | 10.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | -32.1% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | +45.9% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -37.0% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | +151.8% |
| 2009 | 14.7% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 13.3% | -19.5% |
| 2015 | 13.8% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | -16.2% |
| 2018 | 11.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 7.1% | -27.7% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | -31.4% |
| 2022 | 6.3% | +30.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 13.6× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.3%, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +151.8% | 6.4% | 16.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.4% | 8.4% | 15.8% | 3 |
| 2000s | 10.7% | 6.4% | 16.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 13.1% | 9.8% | 16.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 4.9% | 7.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 46 Libya 6.7%
- 47 Marshall Islands 6.6%
- 48 Ethiopia 6.5% compare
- 50 Gambia 6.2% compare
- 51 Papua New Guinea 6.1% compare
- 52 Costa Rica 5.9% 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 primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 6.3% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.5% in 2013.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 199 countries with data for 2022.
- Is repetition rate in grade 1 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.3%. 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 primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release