<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000355916
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 091
<NAME> NATURAL RESOURCES 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> 12353730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 15352363
<RECEIVABLES> 11470
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2357
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 15366190
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 73266
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 24576
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 97842
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 15738623
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1352139
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1533716
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 40985
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1200952)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (2308824)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2998516
<NET-ASSETS> 15268348
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 94304
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10851
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (64170)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 40985
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 609662
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1938891
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2589538
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4600
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (186177)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 733045
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1810614)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (2308824)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 47993
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 64170
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 14848350
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.48
<PER-SHARE-NII> .03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.78
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .87
</TABLE>
