<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811922
<NAME> MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        523742569
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       527138098
<RECEIVABLES>                                 31408778
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    4753
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             59528
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               558611157
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      40778507
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       684878
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           41463385
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     548605172
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         69314055
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         70753255
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                       (2465244)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                    (32484284)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       3492128
<NET-ASSETS>                                 517147772
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             18803482
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (2347819)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       16455663
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       5629659
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (3023899)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         19061423
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (16735487)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (1439200)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (7432698)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (2185420)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                  (38113943)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          1836041
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              (2392376)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         522200077 
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             7.41
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.24
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.05
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               7.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.92
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>