<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> CLASS C
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        816307324
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       827902790
<RECEIVABLES>                                 21012595
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      17659925
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      8020673
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           25680598
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1330763
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          1147722
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2903796
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              (13992665)
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (6800453)
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         50130028
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (685580)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                          (33314)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         667088
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (529077)
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (395515297)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.58
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>