<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000355916
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 141
<NAME> INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FOCUS FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 157931577
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 173845277
<RECEIVABLES> 3755763
<ASSETS-OTHER> 625254
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 178226294
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1898950
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 849482
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2748432
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 153477327
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13148190
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14216797
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1056228
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 4855528
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 16088779
<NET-ASSETS> 175477862
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2093714
<INTEREST-INCOME> 354166
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (801699)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1646181
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8453759
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (19109873)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (9009933)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (116806)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 209031
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1286239)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8601
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (23441481)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (473147)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (3598231)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 686675
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 801699
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 184119416
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.99
<PER-SHARE-NII> .12
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.75)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .87
</TABLE>