<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> CLASS A
       
<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
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       374095294
<RECEIVABLES>                                  9052094
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 2063369
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               385210757
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       5000000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      6147246
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           11147246
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     614948063
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         12799376
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         18266879
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    (158431158)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    (82453394)
<NET-ASSETS>                                  78527588
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              1497891
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             60851104
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (8716969)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       53632026
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   (114431739)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (93571294)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (154371007)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (11691697)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         658427
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (6663859)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             537929
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (455335361)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (46484986)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          3683766
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                8716969
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         124267579
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             8.83
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .71
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (2.69)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.68)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             (.03)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               6.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .81
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>