<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000027937
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP EQUITY FUNDS III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> DELAWARE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 115,840,003
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 122,276,448
<RECEIVABLES> 2,999,685
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 540,912
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 125,817,045
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,886,749
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 859,114
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,745,863
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 129,814,006
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,213,418
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (16,179,269)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,436,445
<NET-ASSETS> 50,547,580
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4,822
<INTEREST-INCOME> 133,999
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 599,209
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (460,388)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (16,179,269)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6,436,445
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (10,203,212)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6,097,125
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 883,707
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 120,071,182
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 248,315
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 709,087
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 27,661,634
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.500
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.049)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.249
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.700
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.450
</TABLE>
