<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000353874
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 Y
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 LINCOLN NATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND INC
001 B000000 811-3211
001 C000000 2194556536
002 A000000 1300 SOUTH CLINTON STREET
002 B000000 FORT WAYNE
002 C000000 IN
002 D010000 46801
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
077 A000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
SIGNATURE ERIC JONES
TITLE DIR. MUTUAL FUND
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353874
<NAME> GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,871,996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,507,193
<RECEIVABLES> 11,913
<ASSETS-OTHER> 156
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,519,262
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,993
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 49,045
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 54,038
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,744,212
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 74,455
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 61,615
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 85,814
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 635,197
<NET-ASSETS> 2,465,224
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 50,546
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,377
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,685
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 48,238
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 85,814
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 261,545
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 395,597
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 48,238
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 112,217
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 9,034
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,005
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,811
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 631,773
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 7,063
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 7,685
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,164,283
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 29.756
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.683
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.943
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 2.272
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 33.110
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
