<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027937
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> DELAWARE TREND FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 934,791,054
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,481,624,017
<RECEIVABLES> 21,548,802
<ASSETS-OTHER> 766,487
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,503,939,306
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,266,561
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,661,150
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 16,927,711
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 834,283,770
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 33,176,454
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 25,680,284
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 105,894,862
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 546,832,963
<NET-ASSETS> 922,397,505
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 765,183
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,394,960
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 14,263,924
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (9,103,781)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 190,915,137
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 289,916,704
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 471,728,060
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 78,626,723
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 18,922,302
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 15,111,575
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,685,443
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 811,360,814
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 694,658,671
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.630
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.188)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 11.333
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 2.975
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 27.800
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.290
</TABLE>
