<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-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       1181436751
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      1205250778
<RECEIVABLES>                                 30148782
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 6901286
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1242300846
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       4002500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                     13384177
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           17386677
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    1259958879
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         23710959
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         30010112
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     (55669528)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2615568
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            113511396
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              (18959208)
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      27311882
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      8867779
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        133347417
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (18005131)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         387712
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (7346115)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             659250
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (289513556)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (85047460)
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<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               18959208
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<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .67
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.67)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>