<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000202741
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PACIFIC FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> CLASS A
<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> 1604713597
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1788685645
<RECEIVABLES> 14972567
<ASSETS-OTHER> 17251013
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1820909225
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 6311575
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6311575
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1224165756
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 25864975
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 29799135
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (1537401)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 390865180
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 201104115
<NET-ASSETS> 750376564
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 10090909
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1501891
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (13130201)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (1537401)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 394443932
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (669861090)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (276954559)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9431567
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (13365727)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (485937140)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3578752)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 6027908
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 13130201
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 835428748
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 33.12
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (4.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 29.01
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.80
</TABLE>
