<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000355916
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 051
<NAME> QUALITY EQUITY 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> 716832371
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 928135730
<RECEIVABLES> 14051814
<ASSETS-OTHER> 132232
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 942319776
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2992574
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1779818
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4772392
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 604243120
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 23139633
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 23998302
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7709297
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 114365505
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 211229462
<NET-ASSETS> 937547384
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 8573698
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1304977
<OTHER-INCOME> 104284
<EXPENSES-NET> (2273666)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7709293
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 114533767
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (89228218)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 33014842
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (23990)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (19613138)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 83805
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1426624)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 484150
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (20765727)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23994
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 19444876
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2029663
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2273666
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 945407477
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 39.93
<PER-SHARE-NII> .33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.10
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.84)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 40.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .48
</TABLE>
