Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, female was 5.1% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa, 1990–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2017, repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa stood at 5.1%.
The figure is down 22.5% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa peaked at 11.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 41st out of 171 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.2% | — |
| 1998 | 8.3% | -25.7% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | -15.4% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -11.0% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -27.6% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | +84.7% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | -21.7% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | -22.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6%, 8.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.6%, 67% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.8% | 7.0% | 11.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 6.4% | 4.5% | 8.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 5.1% | 6.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 38 Bhutan 5.5% compare
- 39 Solomon Islands 5.5% compare
- 40 Cape Verde 5.3% compare
- 42 Togo 5.1% compare
- 43 Belize 4.9% compare
- 44 Trinidad and Tobago 4.9% 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 3 of primary education, female in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female in South Africa was 5.1% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 171 countries with data for 2017.
- Is repetition rate in grade 3 of primary education, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. 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 3 of primary education, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of female repeaters in a given grade in a given school year, expressed as a percentage of female enrolment in that grade the previous school year. Divide the number of female repeaters in a given grade in school year t+1 by the number of female pupils from the same cohort enrolled in the same grade in the previous school year t.