<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001031661
<NAME> THIRD AVENUE FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> THIRD AVENUE 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> 1396422107
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1855115560
<RECEIVABLES> 39271091
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112274
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 13315379
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1907814304
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 37991630
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13602388
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 51594018
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1264378406
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 48237053
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 38490806
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 28625412
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 106003347
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 457213121
<NET-ASSETS> 1856220286
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 14234582
<INTEREST-INCOME> 25698260
<OTHER-INCOME> 98829
<EXPENSES-NET> 17473612
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2258059
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 273410521
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 24846130
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 320814710
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (177417471)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 15714962
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 10637222
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4668507
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 372551174
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 308571
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 515948413
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 14443111
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 17473612
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1606231796
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 34.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.47
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 7.61
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (4.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 38.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.09
</TABLE>
