<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ALLIED
CAPITAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS, CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AND CASH FLOWS AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN FORM 10Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<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> 1,480,417
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,488,253
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 55,417
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 28,724
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,572,394
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 495,350
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 251,991
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 747,341
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 7
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 844,390
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 74,636
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 65,930
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (2,151)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,574
<NET-ASSETS> 818,053
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 81,714
<OTHER-INCOME> 12,148
<EXPENSES-NET> 46,589
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 47,273
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 15,041
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,057
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 64,371
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 63,866
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8,763
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 140
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 150,540
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 480
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,591
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 46,589
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 742,783
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.20
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.69
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.90
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.96
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.07
</TABLE>
