<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 004
   <NAME> CLASS D
       
<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
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 6164085
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               855079470
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      17659925
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      8020673
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           25680598
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     864765958
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1706412
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          1606592
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     (46484986)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      11117900
<NET-ASSETS>                                  15072489
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2903796
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             77526268
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              (13992665)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       66437399
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (6800453)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (9506918)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         50130028
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (991622)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                          (48185)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         684436
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (647898)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              63282
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (395515297)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (55669528)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          6059356
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               13992665
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          14914780
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             8.94
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .61
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.11)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.58)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             (.03)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.01
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>