<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000225604
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST III
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<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> MFS HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-2001
<PERIOD-START> FEB-01-2000
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (24700202)
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</TABLE>