<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027574
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS II
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 044
<NAME> DELAWARE SOCIAL AWARENESS FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 79,605,258
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 95,524,256
<RECEIVABLES> 240,226
<ASSETS-OTHER> 567
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 95,765,049
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 255,966
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 255,966
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 77,403,986
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 29,439
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 25,131
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (341,330)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2,527,429
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 15,918,998
<NET-ASSETS> 393,793
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 555,077
<INTEREST-INCOME> 33,282
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 929,689
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (341,330)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,535,255
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 578,252
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,772,177
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 3,633
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 11,606
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 7,570
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 272
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,938,878)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,079,988
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 366,751
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 990,119
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 354,715
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.090
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.003)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.438
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.145
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.380
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.250
</TABLE>