<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001041917
<NAME> COHEN & STEERS EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC., CLASS A SHARES
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A SHARES
<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> 99,128,140
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 99,441,518
<RECEIVABLES> 847,326
<ASSETS-OTHER> 53,346
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 702
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 100,342,892
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,020,842
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 299,598
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,320,440
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 107,417,558
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,029,102
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,874,064
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (253,610)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (8,454,874)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 313,378
<NET-ASSETS> 99,022,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3,250,365
<INTEREST-INCOME> 197,766
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (753,960)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,694,171
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,209,851)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 11,472,742
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10,957,062
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,233,550)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,723,834
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (606,603)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 37,807
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 35,519,362
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5,245,023)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 287,099
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 753,960
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 76,992,588
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.03
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.94
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.34)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.66
</TABLE>
