WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000202741
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PACIFIC FUND, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       1554134482
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      1788073180
<RECEIVABLES>                                 10042365
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                13705569
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1811821114
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      13040586
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      5381795
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           18422381
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    1558359963
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         49103338
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         45166524
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                       8718743
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     243757513
<NET-ASSETS>                                1041762957
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                             18636335
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              4194289
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                24316177
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (1485553)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      55186276
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     69105817
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        122806540
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      22895719
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                       19257866
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   16274316
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             953264
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       261087861
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                    18224428
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          9381493
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               24316177
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         915645817
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            20.27
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  (.10)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.53
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .48
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              21.22
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.96
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>