<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEMIANNUAL REPORT
TO SHAREHOLDERS DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000101124
<NAME> WADDELL & REED ADVISORS CONTINENTAL INCOME FUND, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
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<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
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<RECEIVABLES> 10,174
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 2
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<SENIOR-EQUITY> 74,482
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (26,472)
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<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,722)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,490
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,797)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 669
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (22,616)
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<PER-SHARE-NII> .09
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.15
</TABLE>