<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT TO
SHAREHOLDERS DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000310254
<NAME> WADDELL & REED ADVISORS HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
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<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
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<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (35,987)
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (14,308)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,691
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (72,994)
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.37)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.1
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.06
</TABLE>