The pathology of 86 cases of chronic pancreatitis derived from autopsy and surgical sources in Cape Town is outlined. These cases show no definite predisposition to any of the ethnic groups occurring in this region, males are involved more frequently than females, and the majority occur in the age group 31–60 years. A severe form of advanced chronic pancreatitis in which a constant histological picture characterised by lobular destruction, perilobular fibrosis, ductal dilatation and ductal plugging by proteinaceous material, occurs in 77.8% of cases. Although calcification occurs in only 48% of these cases the overall picture corresponds to the entity of chronic calcine pancreatitis. A strong history of chronic alcoholism is present in 62% and evidence of biliary disease in only 8%.