<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000318874
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VII
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> MFS GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 122,572,233
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 118,583,763
<RECEIVABLES> 4,022,861
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,560
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 117,649
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 122,726,833
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,086,085
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,474,735
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3,560,820
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 148,037,109
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8,672,039
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 9,429,018
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,953,783
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (28,070,376)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3,754,503)
<NET-ASSETS> 119,166,013
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,241,312
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,009,985)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,231,327
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7,493,173)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,629,299
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1,632,547)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,237,849)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,509,091
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,915,798)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 649,728
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (23,201,967)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 10,025,860
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (20,577,203)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 486,027
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,030,868
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 130,516,855
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.17
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.36)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.78)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.28
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.33
</TABLE>
