Table 1 Population statistics on alcohol consumption and mortality by sex and socioeconomic status, South Africa, 2015

Population (15+ years)

5,838,935

6,030,496

6,305,738

7,081,701

6,828,503

6,782,163

Lifetime abstainers in % (95% CI)

35.4 (32.0–38.9)

36.7 (34.1–39.4)

40.8 (38.2–43.3)

58.6 (54.5–62.7)

70.8 (67.8–73.7)

76.6 (74.2–79.0)

Current drinkers in % (95% CI)

50.5 (46.0–55.0)

47.8 (44.5–51.2)

45.0 (41.9–48.1)

28.5 (24.4–32.7)

17.8 (15.4–20.1)

13.9 (12.0–15.8)

Binge drinkers in % (95% CI)

11.9 (9.5–14.4)

14.7 (12.3–17.1)

13.5 (11.4–15.6)

2.6 (1.7–3.4)

2.9 (2.1–3.8)

2.7 (1.9–3.6)

Mean grams per day among drinkers (SD)

47.7 (55.9)

65.6 (76.8)

67.4 (78.9)

20.3 (25.6)

29.4 (36.9)

41.6 (52.3)

Total deaths^a (95% UI)

48,469 (43,512–53,930)

95,873 (82,905–108,684)

122,436 (108,590–135,061)

44,289 (39,589–49,428)

92,189 (79,384–104,727)

126,146 (112,328–138,705)

 Injuries

1850 (1223–2593)

4334 (2733–6247)

4600 (2975–6489)

320 (206–464)

604 (365–896)

627 (383–922)

 Infectious diseases

2051 (646–3804)

4768 (1541–8924)

18,311 (5472–32,176)

601 (178–1324)

1171 (331–2732)

6520 (1558–14,572)

 Chronic diseases

2985 (1007–5486)

4205 (1470–7982)

5981 (2731–10,110)

1181 (− 126–3333)

1946 (175–5142)

3240 (642–6950)

 Total

6886 (2876–11,883)

13,307 (5744–23,153)

28,892 (11,178–48,775)

2102 (258–5121)

3721 (871–8770)

10,387 (2583–22,444)