<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS LEGEND CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FUND'S
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000202032
<NAME> AIM GROWTH SERIES
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 071
   <NAME> AIM SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND - CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                    JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                      DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                   40333
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                  49967
<RECEIVABLES>                                            3202
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          53169
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                  328
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                 610
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                       938
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                             0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                42095
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                    1452
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                     763
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                      0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                   349
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                    0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                 9787
<NET-ASSETS>                                            52231
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                          43
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                         104
<OTHER-INCOME>                                              7
<EXPENSES-NET>                                          (710)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                 (556)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                  988
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                8891
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                    9323
<EQUALIZATION>                                              0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                   0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                (577)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                       0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                  2809
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                            (2155)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                        35
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                  18520
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                   0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                     0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                  0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                           859
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                    34643
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                   14.27
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                        (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                  3.45
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                     0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                              (0.50)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                     0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                     17.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                        (1.29)
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                 591476
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                    0.191
        


</TABLE>