<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811922
<NAME> MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        537481729
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       548932168
<RECEIVABLES>                                  9111038
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    6606
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           1062949
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               559112761
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4616743
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            4616743
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     576060467
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         73384455
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         79539155
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                         3035917
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                      28892369
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      10363837
<NET-ASSETS>                                 554496018
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             43850218
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (5717222)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       38132996
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       1310231
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (8205983)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         31237244
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (41934841)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    6154700
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (51638716)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                      (1916012)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                  (27520660)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          4188509
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                5744365
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         574904645
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             7.62
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.49
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.54)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.00
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>