<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> 042
   <NAME> AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND - CLASS B
<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>                                          64112
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                         64110
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   2784
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                     1
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 66895
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                           0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                            0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                       4498
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                             4498
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                    0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                       85080
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                           2670
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                           2798
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                          0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                             0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                      (20069)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                           0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                      (2615)
<NET-ASSETS>                                                   62396
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                491
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                802
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                    54
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                (1615)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                        (268)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                     (14774)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                      16254
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                           1212
<EQUALIZATION>                                                     0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                        (31)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                         3641
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                   (3773)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                3
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                       (36788)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                            0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                          0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                            0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                         0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                            740
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                 1894
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                           77151
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                           8.67
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                               (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                       (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                            0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                     (0.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                            0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                             8.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                 2.61
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                            48
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                           0.006
        


</TABLE>