<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000835620
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-5603
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9011
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000  0
007 C010100  1
007 C010200  2
007 C010300  3
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-12485
008 D010001 PRINCETON
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 08543
008 D040001 9011
011 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B000001 8-14663
011 C010001 PRINCETON
011 C020001 NJ
011 C030001 08543
011 C040001 9011
012 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B000001 84-01339
012 C010001 JACKSONVILLE
012 C020001 FL
012 C030001 32246
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
012 C040001 6484
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 PRINCETON
013 B020001 NJ
013 B030001 08540
014 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B000001 8-7221
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02101
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 CENTRAL TRUST OF CHINA
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 TAIPEI
015 D010002 TAIWAN
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 ANZ BANKING GROUP (NEW ZEALAND) LTD.
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 WELLINGTON
015 D010003 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040003 X
015 A000004 GIROCREDIT BANK
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 VIENNA
015 D010004 AUSTRIA
015 E040004 X
015 A000005 GENERALE BANK
015 B000005 S
015 C010005 BRUSSELS
015 D010005 BELGIUM
015 E040005 X
015 A000006 CANADA TRUSTCO MORTGAGE COMPANY
015 B000006 S
015 C010006 TORONTO
015 D010006 CANADA
015 E040006 X
015 A000007 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000007 S
015 C010007 PARIS
015 D010007 FRANCE
015 E040007 X
015 A000008 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000008 S
015 C010008 NEW YORK
015 C020008 NY
015 C030008 10286
015 E010008 X
015 A000009 MEESPIERSON N.V.
015 B000009 S
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
015 C010009 AMSTERDAM
015 D010009 NETHERLANDS
015 E040009 X
015 A000010 WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
015 B000010 S
015 C010010 AUSTRALIA
015 D010010 AUSTRALIA
015 E040010 X
015 A000011 BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.
015 B000011 S
015 C010011 MADRID
015 D010011 SPAIN
015 E040011 X
015 A000012 CESKOSLOVENSKA OBICHODNI BANKA
015 B000012 S
015 C010012 PRAGUE
015 D010012 CZECH REPUBLIC
015 E040012 X
015 A000013 NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A.
015 B000013 S
015 C010013 ATHENS
015 D010013 GREECE
015 D020013 GR-105 64
015 E040013 X
015 A000015 BANK OF SEOUL
015 B000015 S
015 C010015 SEOUL
015 D010015 KOREA
015 E040015 X
015 A000016 CITITRUST COLUMBIA S.A. SOCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA
015 B000016 S
015 C010016 BOGOTA
015 D010016 COLUMBIA
015 E040016 X
015 A000017 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B000017 S
015 C010017 DUBLIN
015 D010017 IRELAND
015 E040017 X
015 A000018 BANCO COMERCIAL PORTUGUES
015 B000018 S
015 C010018 LISBON
015 D010018 PORTUGAL
015 E040018 X
015 A000019 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B000019 S
015 C010019 ZURICH
015 D010019 SWITZERLAND
015 E040019 X
015 A000020 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000020 S
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
015 C010020 STOCKHOLM
015 D010020 SWEDEN
015 E040020 X
015 A000021 THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SINGAPORE LIMITED
015 B000021 S
015 C010021 SINGAPORE
015 D010021 SINGAPORE
015 E040021 X
015 A000022 CHRISTIANIA BANK OG KREDITKASSE
015 B000022 S
015 C010022 OSLO
015 D010022 NORWAY
015 D020022 1
015 E040022 X
015 A000023 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000023 S
015 C010023 NEW YORK
015 C020023 NY
015 C030023 10015
015 E010023 X
015 A000024 SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING COMPANY LIMITED
015 B000024 S
015 C010024 TOKYO
015 D010024 JAPAN
015 D020024 104
015 E040024 X
015 A000025 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000025 S
015 C010025 LONDON
015 D010025 ENGLAND
015 E040025 X
015 A000026 DRESDNER BANK A.G.
015 B000026 S
015 C010026 FRANKFURT
015 D010026 GERMANY
015 D020026 6000
015 E040026 X
015 A000027 KANSALLIS-OSAKE PANKKI
015 B000027 S
015 C010027 HELSINKI
015 D010027 FINLAND
015 E040027 X
015 A000028 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000028 S
015 C010028 COPENHAGEN
015 D010028 DENMARK
015 D020028 DK-1092
015 E040028 X
015 A000029 CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.
015 B000029 S
015 C010029 BUDAPEST
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
015 D010029 HUNGARY
015 E040029 X
015 A000030 NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT
015 B000030 S
015 C010030 CAIRO
015 D010030 EGYPT
015 E040030 X
015 A000031 BANQUE COMMERCIALE DU MARAQUE
015 B000031 S
015 C010031 CASABLANCA
015 D010031 MOROCCO
015 E040031 X
015 A000032 CITIBANK POLAND, S.A.
015 B000032 S
015 C010032 WARSAW
015 D010032 POLAND
015 E040032 X
015 A000033 STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA
015 B000033 S
015 C010033 JOHANNESBURG
015 D010033 SOUTH AFRICA
015 E040033 X
015 A000034 OESTERREICHISCHE KONTROLLBANK AG
015 B000034 S
015 C010034 AUSTRIA
015 D010034 AUSTRIA
015 E040034 X
015 A000035 CAJA DE VALORES S.A.
015 B000035 S
015 C010035 ARGENTINA
015 D010035 ARGENTINA
015 E040035 X
015 A000036 AUSTRACLEAR LIMITED
015 B000036 S
015 C010036 AUSTRALIA
015 D010036 AUSTRALIA
015 E040036 X
015 A000037 RITS
015 B000037 S
015 C010037 AUSTRALIA
015 D010037 AUSTRALIA
015 E040037 X
015 A000038 CIK
015 B000038 S
015 C010038 BELGIUM
015 D010038 BELGIUM
015 E040038 X
015 A000039 BANQUE NATIONALE DE BELGIQUE
015 B000039 S
015 C010039 BELGIUM
015 D010039 BELGIUM
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
015 E040039 X
015 A000040 BOVESPA
015 B000040 S
015 C010040 BRAZIL
015 D010040 BRAZIL
015 E040040 X
015 A000041 SELIC
015 B000041 S
015 C010041 BRAZIL
015 D010041 BRAZIL
015 E040041 X
015 A000042 CDS
015 B000042 S
015 C010042 CANADA
015 D010042 CANADA
015 E040042 X
015 A000043 THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP.
015 B000043 S
015 C010043 HONG KONG
015 D010043 HONG KONG
015 E040043 X
015 A000044 SHENZHEN SECURITIES CLEARING CO.
015 B000044 S
015 C010044 CHINA
015 D010044 CHINA
015 E040044 X
015 A000045 SCP
015 B000045 S
015 C010045 CZECH REPUBLIC
015 D010045 CZECH REPUBLIC
015 E040045 X
015 A000046 CITIBANK MEXICO S.A.
015 B000046 S
015 C010046 MEXICO
015 D010046 MEXICO
015 E040046 X
015 A000047 VP
015 B000047 S
015 C010047 DENMARK
015 D010047 DENMARK
015 E040047 X
015 A000048 THE CENTRAL SHARE REGISTER OF FINLAND
015 B000048 S
015 C010048 FINLAND
015 D010048 FINLAND
015 E040048 X
015 A000049 SICOVAM
015 B000049 S
015 C010049 FRANCE
015 D010049 FRANCE
015 E040049 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  7
015 A000050 BANQUE DE FRANCE
015 B000050 S
015 C010050 FRANCE
015 D010050 FRANCE
015 E040050 X
015 A000051 THE DEUTSCHER KASSENVEREIN AG
015 B000051 S
015 C010051 GERMANY
015 D010051 GERMANY
015 E040051 X
015 A000052 THE CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY
015 B000052 S
015 C010052 GREECE
015 D010052 GREECE
015 E040052 X
015 A000053 CCASS
015 B000053 S
015 C010053 HONG KONG
015 D010053 HONG KONG
015 E040053 X
015 A000054 GSO
015 B000054 S
015 C010054 IRELAND
015 D010054 IRELAND
015 E040054 X
015 A000055 MONTE TITOLI S.P.A.
015 B000055 S
015 C010055 ITALY
015 D010055 ITALY
015 E040055 X
015 A000056 MALAYSIAN CENTRAL DEPOSITORY
015 B000056 S
015 C010056 MALAYSIA
015 D010056 MALAYSIA
015 E040056 X
015 A000057 THE CENTRAL DEPOSITORY (PVT) LIMITED
015 B000057 S
015 C010057 SRI LANKA
015 D010057 SRI LANKA
015 E040057 X
015 A000058 KSD
015 B000058 S
015 C010058 KOREA
015 D010058 KOREA
015 E040058 X
015 A000059 S.D. INDEVAL
015 B000059 S
015 C010059 MEXICO
015 D010059 MEXICO
015 E040059 X
015 A000060 BANCO DE MEXICO
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
015 B000060 S
015 C010060 MEXICO
015 D010060 MEXICO
015 E040060 X
015 A000061 THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND
015 B000061 S
015 C010061 NEW ZEALAND
015 D010061 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040061 X
015 A000062 VPS
015 B000062 S
015 C010062 NORWAY
015 D010062 NORWAY
015 E040062 X
015 A000063 CAVAL
015 B000063 S
015 C010063 PERU
015 D010063 PERU
015 E040063 X
015 A000064 THE NATIONAL DEPOSITORY OF SECURITIES
015 B000064 S
015 C010064 POLAND
015 D010064 POLAND
015 E040064 X
015 A000065 CENTRAL DE VALORES MOBILIARIES
015 B000065 S
015 C010065 PORTUGAL
015 D010065 PORTUGAL
015 E040065 X
015 A000066 CDP
015 B000066 S
015 C010066 SINGAPORE
015 D010066 SINGAPORE
015 E040066 X
015 A000067 SCLV
015 B000067 S
015 C010067 SPAIN
015 D010067 SPAIN
015 E040067 X
015 A000068 VPC
015 B000068 S
015 C010068 SWEDEN
015 D010068 SWEDEN
015 E040068 X
015 A000069 SEGA
015 B000069 S
015 C010069 SWITZERLAND
015 D010069 SWITZERLAND
015 E040069 X
015 A000070 TSCD
015 B000070 S
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
015 C010070 TAIWAN
015 D010070 TAIWAN
015 E040070 X
015 A000071 SDC
015 B000071 S
015 C010071 THAILAND
015 D010071 THAILAND
015 E040071 X
015 A000072 CGO
015 B000072 S
015 C010072 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010072 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040072 X
015 A000073 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000073 S
015 C010073 NEW YORK
015 C020073 NY
015 C030073 10015
015 E010073 X
015 A000074 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000074 S
015 C010074 NEW YORK
015 C020074 NY
015 C030074 10006
015 E010074 X
015 A000075 CHEMICAL BANK
015 B000075 S
015 C010075 NEW YORK
015 C020075 NY
015 C030075 10017
015 E010075 X
015 A000076 SSCCRC
015 B000076 S
015 C010076 CHINA
015 D010076 CHINA
015 E040076 X
015 A000077 NECIGEF
015 B000077 S
015 C010077 NETHERLANDS
015 D010077 NETHERLANDS
015 E040077 X
015 A000078 BANCO DE ESPANA ANOTATIONES EN CUENTA
015 B000078 S
015 C010078 SPAIN
015 D010078 SPAIN
015 E040078 X
015 A000079 TAKAS VE SAKLAMA
015 B000079 S
015 C010079 TURKEY
015 D010079 TURKEY
015 E040079 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  10
015 A000080 CMO
015 B000080 S
015 C010080 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010080 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040080 X
015 A000081 EUROCLEAR
015 B000081 S
015 C010081 BELGIUM
015 D010081 BELGIUM
015 E040081 X
015 A000082 CEDEL, S.A.
015 B000082 S
015 C010082 LUXEMBOURG
015 D010082 LUXEMBOURG
015 E040082 X
015 A000083 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B000083 S
015 C010083 NEW YORK
015 C020083 NY
015 C030083 10167
015 E010083 X
015 A000084 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, BERHAD
015 B000084 S
015 C010084 MALAYSIA
015 D010084 MALAYSIA
015 E040084 X
015 A000085 SCP
015 B000085 S
015 C010085 SLOVAK REPUBLIC
015 D010085 SLOVAK REPUBLIC
015 E040085 X
015 A000086 AUSTRACLEAR NZ
015 B000086 S
015 C010086 NEW ZEALAND
015 D010086 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040086 X
015 A000087 THE BANK OF ENGLAND
015 B000087 S
015 C010087 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010087 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040087 X
018  000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000  184
019 C000000 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000001 13-2655998
020 C000001     61
020 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000002 13-5674085
020 C000002     53
<PAGE>      PAGE  11
020 A000003 MCMAHAN SECURITIES CO. L.P.
020 B000003 06-1229141
020 C000003     20
020 A000004 INSTINET CORPORATION
020 B000004 13-3443395
020 C000004      8
020 A000005 SALOMON BROTHERS INC
020 B000005 13-3082694
020 C000005      2
020 A000006 FORUM CAPITAL MARKETS L.P.
020 B000006 06-1351111
020 C000006      2
020 A000007 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000007 13-5108880
020 C000007      1
020 A000008 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST CO.
020 C000008      1
020 A000009 AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES
020 C000009      1
020 A000010 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
020 B000010 13-5659485
020 C000010      1
021  000000      150
022 A000001 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000001   4823316
022 D000001         0
022 A000002 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000002 13-2655998
022 C000002    834968
022 D000002    857419
022 A000003 FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.
022 C000003   1268880
022 D000003         0
022 A000004 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL/C.J. LAWRENCE INC.
022 B000004 13-2730828
022 C000004    438816
022 D000004    505760
022 A000005 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST CO.
022 C000005    346445
022 D000005    351639
022 A000006 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000006 13-5108880
022 C000006    304041
022 D000006    110460
022 A000007 SBC WARBURG INC.
022 B000007 13-3340045
022 C000007    203613
022 D000007    204328
022 A000008 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 C000008    392182
022 D000008         0
<PAGE>      PAGE  12
022 A000009 BT SECURITIES CORPORATION
022 C000009    136738
022 D000009    214787
022 A000010 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000010 13-2650272
022 C000010    151055
022 D000010     50993
023 C000000    9827069
023 D000000    3137239
024  000000 Y
025 A000001 MORGAN STANLEY GROUP, INC.
025 C000001 E
025 D000001     994
025 A000002 DELETE
025 D000002       0
025 D000003       0
025 D000004       0
025 D000005       0
025 D000006       0
025 D000007       0
025 D000008       0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027  000000 Y
028 A010000      5027
028 A020000      3098
028 A030000         0
028 A040000     33972
028 B010000      7351
028 B020000      3674
028 B030000         0
028 B040000     46041
028 C010000      6750
028 C020000      2953
028 C030000         0
028 C040000     41146
028 D010000      5978
028 D020000      2800
028 D030000         0
028 D040000     41920
028 E010000      5787
028 E020000      3356
028 E030000         0
028 E040000     37715
<PAGE>      PAGE  13
028 F010000      6978
028 F020000      3613
028 F030000         0
028 F040000     39109
028 G010000     37871
028 G020000     19494
028 G030000         0
028 G040000    239903
028 H000000      2558
029  000000 Y
030 A000000     89
030 B000000  4.00
030 C000000  0.00
031 A000000      8
031 B000000      0
032  000000      0
033  000000     81
034  000000 Y
035  000000   1834
036 A000000 N
036 B000000      0
037  000000 N
038  000000      0
039  000000 N
040  000000 Y
041  000000 Y
042 A000000   0
042 B000000   0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000   0
042 E000000   0
042 F000000   0
042 G000000   0
042 H000000   0
043  000000   8470
044  000000      0
045  000000 Y
046  000000 N
047  000000 Y
048  000000  0.600
048 A010000        0
048 A020000 0.000
048 B010000        0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000        0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000        0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000        0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000        0
<PAGE>      PAGE  14
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000        0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000        0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000        0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000        0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000        0
048 K020000 0.000
049  000000 N
050  000000 N
051  000000 N
052  000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056  000000 Y
057  000000 N
058 A000000 N
059  000000 Y
060 A000000 N
060 B000000 N
061  000000        0
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000   0.4
062 C000000   0.0
062 D000000   0.0
062 E000000   0.0
062 F000000   0.0
062 G000000   0.0
062 H000000   0.0
062 I000000  10.9
062 J000000   0.0
062 K000000   0.0
062 L000000   0.0
<PAGE>      PAGE  15
062 M000000   0.0
062 N000000   0.0
062 O000000   0.0
062 P000000  33.4
062 Q000000  49.5
062 R000000   4.6
063 A000000   0
063 B000000  6.7
064 A000000 N
066 A000000 N
067  000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069  000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 Y
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 Y
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 Y
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 N
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 Y
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 Y
070 R020000 Y
071 A000000   2600291
<PAGE>      PAGE  16
071 B000000   3012592
071 C000000   1246963
071 D000000  209
072 A000000 12
072 B000000   113511
072 C000000     2616
072 D000000        0
072 E000000        0
072 F000000     8216
072 G000000      166
072 H000000        0
072 I000000     1408
072 J000000      225
072 K000000        0
072 L000000      201
072 M000000       45
072 N000000       81
072 O000000        0
072 P000000        0
072 Q000000        0
072 R000000       58
072 S000000       50
072 T000000     8470
072 U000000        0
072 V000000        0
072 W000000       39
072 X000000    18959
072 Y000000        0
072 Z000000    97168
072AA000000    83968
072BB000000    56656
072CC010000     8868
072CC020000        0
072DD010000    18847
072DD020000    78321
072EE000000        0
073 A010000   0.0000
073 A020000   0.0000
073 B000000   0.0000
073 C000000   0.0000
074 A000000      559
074 B000000        0
074 C000000   138607
074 D000000  1015148
074 E000000    40682
074 F000000    16069
074 G000000        0
074 H000000        0
074 I000000      204
074 J000000     3857
074 K000000        0
<PAGE>      PAGE  17
074 L000000    26292
074 M000000     6342
074 N000000  1247760
074 O000000     4003
074 P000000     1269
074 Q000000        0
074 R010000        0
074 R020000     5450
074 R030000        9
074 R040000    12115
074 S000000        0
074 T000000  1224914
074 U010000    25318
074 U020000   111697
074 V010000     0.00
074 V020000     0.00
074 W000000   0.0000
074 X000000    77516
074 Y000000        0
075 A000000        0
075 B000000  1369353
076  000000     0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 O000000 Y
078  000000 N
080 A000000 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
080 C000000     1500
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 111
082 A000000 N
082 B000000        0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000        0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000        0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER