Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes was 5.7% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 4 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 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 5.7%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 85.2% on the previous year and down 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 11.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 44th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.0% | — |
| 1998 | 10.8% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 10.5% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | -24.8% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | -25.5% |
| 2003 | 9.5% | +61.1% |
| 2014 | 9.8% | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 5.9% | -35.9% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -48.2% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | +85.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7%, 8.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.4%, 50% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Repetition rate in Grade 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +85.2% | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| 2003 | +61.1% | 5.9% | 9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.7% | 10.5% | 11.0% | 3 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 5.9% | 9.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 9.2% | 9.8% | 5 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 3.1% | 5.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 41 Trinidad and Tobago 5.8% compare
- 42 Bhutan 5.8% compare
- 43 Belize 5.7% compare
- 45 Dominican Republic 5.6% compare
- 46 Mozambique 5.5% compare
- 47 Botswana 5.5% 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 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 5.7% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 44th out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.0%. 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 4 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release