<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
TEMPLETON GLOBAL SMALLER COMPANIES FUND, INC. AUGUST 31, 2000 ANNUAL REPORT AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000350900
<NAME> TEMPLETON GLOBAL SMALLER COMPANIES FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> TEMPLETON GLOBAL SMALLER COMPANIES FUND, INC. - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 693132641
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 835225140
<RECEIVABLES> 161703190
<ASSETS-OTHER> 134108
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 997062438
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8791626
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4005074
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12796700
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 790637499
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2881427
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4061841
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 13059255
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 38739610
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 141829374
<NET-ASSETS> 984265738
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 26331656
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4262055
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (14282932)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 16310779
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 43671047
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 28008040
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 87989866
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (334497)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1514644)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4746433
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (6171879)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 245032
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (111701935)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 21774665
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 53040825
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (7735090)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (14282932)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1031316269
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.27
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.05<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.35
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.39)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.19
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.11
<FN>
<F1> BASED ON AVERAGE WEIGHTED SHARES OUTSTANDING.
</FN>
</TABLE>
