Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, male in South Africa
South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, male was 8.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, male in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 8.1% for repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male in 2022.
That represents a change of up 175.3% on the previous year and down 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male in South Africa peaked at 13.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 35th out of 180 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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, male in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.6% | — |
| 1998 | 12.4% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 9.4% | -23.6% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -26.7% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | +43.9% |
| 2014 | 12.4% | +25.2% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | -63.4% |
| 2022 | 8.1% | +175.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.8%, 10.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.7%, 69% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.5% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 8.8% | 6.9% | 9.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 11.8% | 13.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 2.9% | 8.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 32 Tanzania, United Republic of 9.4% compare
- 33 Luxembourg 8.7% compare
- 34 Nicaragua 8.4% compare
- 36 Dominican Republic 7.5% compare
- 37 Nepal 7.3% compare
- 38 Togo 7.2% 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, male in South Africa?
- Repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male in South Africa was 8.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 180 countries with data for 2022.
- Is repetition rate in grade 4 of primary education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.8%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release