Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium
Belgium: Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes was 2.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium, 1973–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 2.2% for repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in 2021.
The figure is up 10.1% on the previous year and down 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium peaked at 24.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2020.
That places Belgium 91st out of 196 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 24.0% | — |
| 1974 | 23.3% | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 23.6% | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 23.0% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 22.4% | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 22.5% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 22.1% | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 18.9% | -14.5% |
| 1981 | 18.5% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 19.4% | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 17.6% | -9.1% |
| 1984 | 17.3% | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 16.3% | -5.5% |
| 1986 | 15.9% | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 16.2% | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 15.8% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -80.4% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -11.2% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +10.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.0% | 22.1% | 24.0% | 7 |
| 1980s | 17.5% | 15.9% | 19.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 6 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 88 Panama 2.3% compare
- 89 India 2.2% compare
- 90 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.2% compare
- 92 Jamaica 2.2% compare
- 93 Netherlands 2.1% compare
- 94 Liechtenstein 2.1% compare
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium?
- Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium was 2.2% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 1973.
- What is the lowest repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 91st out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
- Is repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release