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 9.7% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, 1990–2017
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 9.7%, measured in 2017.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 2.2% 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, 5.9%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 35th out of 178 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
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% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | +4.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9%, 10.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.2%, 87% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
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 | 9.5% | 9.3% | 9.7% | 2 |
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 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 9.7% in 2017, 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 5.9% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 178 countries with data for 2017.
- Is repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. 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.
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About this data
Number of repeaters in a given grade in a given school year, expressed as a percentage of enrolment in that grade the previous school year. Divide the number of repeaters in a given grade in school year t+1 by the number of pupils from the same cohort enrolled in the same grade in the previous school year t.