<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001011378
<NAME> THE UNIVERSAL INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 09
<NAME> ASIAN EQUITY 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> 14,730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,704
<RECEIVABLES> 1,065
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 41
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,810
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 137
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 256
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 393
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 12,428
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,924
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,831
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 34
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2,981
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (26)
<NET-ASSETS> 15,417
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 112
<INTEREST-INCOME> 33
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 109
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 36
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,661
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3,159)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,462)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8,487
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (8,394)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,701)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 66
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 229
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 16,704
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.35
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.36)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.01
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.31
</TABLE>