<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027801
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS I
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> DELAWARE BALANCED FUND B CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 582,299,522
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 605,414,267
<RECEIVABLES> 18,805,678
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,494
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 624,223,439
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 28,739,913
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,600,035
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 34,339,948
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 571,355,644
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,776,141
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,107,751
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,984,060
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (7,570,958)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 23,114,745
<NET-ASSETS> 589,883,491
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,007,840
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,550,635
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,590,810
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,967,665
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,855,477)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (36,126,734)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (35,014,546)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 160,625
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 7,495,236
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 343,889
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,071,821
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 396,322
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (144,415,667)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 83,216,473
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,080,484
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,611,428
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 654,939,244
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.590
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.135
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.197)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.055
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 2.553
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.920
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.130
</TABLE>
