Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa
South Africa: Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes was 94.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Survival rate to 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 survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa is 94.5%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa peaked at 94.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 69.4%, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 102nd of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.3% | — |
| 1998 | 82.1% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 69.4% | -15.4% |
| 2001 | 88.5% | +27.5% |
| 2002 | 86.8% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 84.5% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 90.8% | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 94.5% | +4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 94.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 96.5%, 98% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 94.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.5%, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 75.9% | 69.4% | 82.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 86.6% | 84.5% | 88.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 92.6% | 90.8% | 94.5% | 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 survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa?
- Survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in South Africa was 94.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 94.5% in 2017.
- What is the lowest survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.4% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes?
- South Africa ranks 102nd out of 180 countries with data for 2017.
- Is survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of a cohort of students enrolled in the first grade of primary education in a given school year who are expected to reach grade 4, regardless of repetition. Divide the total number of students belonging to a school-cohort who reached each successive grade of primary education by the number of students in the school-cohort i.e. those originally enrolled in the first grade of primary education, and multiply the result by 100. The survival rate is calculated on the basis of the reconstructed cohort method, which uses data on enrolment and repeaters for two consecutive years.