<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001031661
<NAME> THIRD AVENUE FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> THIRD AVENUE SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 135524762
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 141914028
<RECEIVABLES> 1837184
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3227
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 2959526
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 146713965
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 726980
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3528136
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4255116
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 127666151
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10278682
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10761465
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1532726
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 6985616
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6274356
<NET-ASSETS> 142458849
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2402167
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1151438
<OTHER-INCOME> 1293
<EXPENSES-NET> 1694691
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1860207
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7059950
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 18062709
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 26982866
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 991471
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5821974
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6382470
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 77713
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20563838
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 748060
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (11788353)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1172900
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1694691
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 130393746
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.33
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.44
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.30
</TABLE>
