<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> CLASS C
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        683714839
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       635875972
<RECEIVABLES>                                 22689395
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 3483783
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               662049150
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4786942
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            4786942
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     738304316
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1172822
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          1330763
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     (33203240)
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              1034622
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             35690130
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (5244401)
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      13281746
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (58956768)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       (14194671)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (439875)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         174832
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (366460)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              33687
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (172136664)
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<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (46484986)
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                5244401
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<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.57)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.62
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>