<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000217420
<NAME> WADDELL & REED ADVISORS FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> BOND FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 494,654
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 487,230
<RECEIVABLES> 21,357
<ASSETS-OTHER> 16
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 1
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 508,604
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> (2,997)
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (1,498)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (4,495)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 83,850
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 448,437
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 83,850
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 433
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (21,175)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (7,436)
<NET-ASSETS> 504,109
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 25,888
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (3,803)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,085
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,108)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,291
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 25,376
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (21,872)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 91,891
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (96,037)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> (3,286)
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,385)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 237
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,940
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,803
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 492,446,906
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.97
<PER-SHARE-NII> .27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .04
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.01
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.02
</TABLE>