<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001011378
<NAME> THE UNIVERSAL INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 11
<NAME> EMERGING MARKETS DEBT PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 42,533
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 42,802
<RECEIVABLES> 4,523
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 46
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 47,371
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,363
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 347
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4,710
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 50,008
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,800
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,570
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,252
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (9,847)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 248
<NET-ASSETS> 42,661
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,539
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (283)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,256
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,302
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,614)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,944
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7,779
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (6,549)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 11,103
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (4)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 159
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 400
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 40,007
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.38
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.36
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.70
</TABLE>
