<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001058239
<NAME> Salomon Brothers High Income Fund II Inc.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-2001
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,055,793,307
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 890,373,717
<RECEIVABLES> 24,018,393
<ASSETS-OTHER> 15,051
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 914,407,161
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 157,031,865
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 157,031,865
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,011,943,782
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 67,940,079
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 66,741,739
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (6,027,782)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (83,121,114)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (165,419,590)
<NET-ASSETS> 757,375,296
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 57,420,072
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 11,020,866
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 46,399,206
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (142,908)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (41,181,171)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,075,127
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 52,405,494
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (33,367,445)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (21,494)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (82,978,206)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5,224,491
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 11,020,866
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 786,973,798
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.850
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.690
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.610)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.780
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.150
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.75
</TABLE>
