<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 002
   <NAME> CLASS B
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        456965258
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       5000000
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      6147246
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         46159659
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         72644554
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              1497891
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<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (40056788)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        3319965
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                 (32073450)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             (.03)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.59
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>