<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial  information extracted from the balance
sheet of MCI  Communications  Corporation and Subsidiaries at September 30, 1997
and the income  statement  for the nine months ended  September  30, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                                                0000064079
<NAME>                                           MCI Communications Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                                            1000000
       
<S>                                                                 <C>       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                                                 139
<SECURITIES>                                                            10
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        3,561
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           344
<INVENTORY>                                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                       893
<PP&E>                                                              21,258
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       7,475
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      24,717
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                7,327
<BONDS>                                                              3,282
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  750
<PREFERRED>                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                                74
<OTHER-SE>                                                          11,247
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        24,717
<SALES>                                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    14,545
<CGS>                                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       13,593
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                     174
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        684
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          (246)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    393
<DISCONTINUED>                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           393
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0.56
        

</TABLE>