Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa

South Africa: Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both was 12.8% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
12.8%
World rank
32nd
of 172 countries
All-time high
19.9%
in 1990
All-time low
6.9%
in 2002
Years of data
7
1990–2017

Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa, 1990–2017

51015201990200320171990: 19.9 %1998: 16.4 %1999: 15.9 %2001: 14.7 %2002: 6.9 %2003: 13.3 %2017: 12.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 12.8% for repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa peaked at 19.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2002.

That places South Africa 32nd out of 172 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.

Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%) in South Africa, 1990 to 2017.
Year % Change
1990 19.9%
1998 16.4% -17.7%
1999 15.9% -3.0%
2001 14.7% -7.4%
2002 6.9% -52.8%
2003 13.3% +91.5%
2017 12.8% -3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17.4% 15.9% 19.9% 3
2000s 11.7% 6.9% 14.7% 3
2010s 12.8% 12.8% 12.8% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 29 Argentina 15.0% compare
  2. 30 Suriname 13.8% compare
  3. 31 Guyana 13.6% compare
  4. 33 Malawi 12.0% compare
  5. 34 Eritrea 11.5% compare
  6. 35 Mozambique 11.0% compare

See the full ranking of 172 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa?
Repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa was 12.8% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 1990.
What is the lowest repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2002.
How does South Africa rank for repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both?
South Africa ranks 32nd out of 172 countries with data for 2017.
Is repetition rate in grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. 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 2 of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/repetition-rate-in-grade-2-of-lower-secondary-general-education-both-sexes-percent/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Repetition rate in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
172 places, 3,327 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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.