<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001019766
<NAME> HANSBERGER INSTITUTIONAL SERIES
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> EMERGING MARKETS FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<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> 280,102,604
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 326,573,353
<RECEIVABLES> 4,666,312
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 2,575,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 333,814,973
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8,929,927
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 977,821
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 977,821
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 271,596,877
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 36,950,917
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 35,725,169
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,953,677
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3,887,424
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<EXPENSES-NET> 2,115,155
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 20,369,092
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (60,384,799)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (37,957,380)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,447,445
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (221,697)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (26,298,844)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (104,650)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (16,446,388)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.80
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.09)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.77
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
</TABLE>
