<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ALLIED
CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL
POSITION, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          113,980
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         121,819
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   2,936
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            20,835
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 145,590
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                         81,300
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        4,052
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             85,352
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                 12,186
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        41,332
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            6,186
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            6,174
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        2,284
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          3,584
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         7,661
<NET-ASSETS>                                    59,238
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                1,079
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                8,645
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     618
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   8,058
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,284
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         3,584
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        6,551
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           12,419
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        2,284
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                         1,539
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 33
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           9,251
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            854
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        2,024
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                          3,420
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            2,077
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,994
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  8,058
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            54,600
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             7.11
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .37
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.63
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .37
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .25
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.61
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .15
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                          74,800
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                             12.09
        

</TABLE>