<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, AND STATE-
MENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS FOUND ON PAGES 17 THROUGH 28 OF THE FORTIS
BOND FUNDS ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000049929
<NAME> FORTIS INCOME PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> STRATEGIC INCOME FUND (CLASS A)
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 25,824,944
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 24,423,472
<RECEIVABLES> 476,706
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 27,635
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,927,813
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 34,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 34,967
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,865,381
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,617,107
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,428,411
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 149
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1,571,212)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (1,401,472)
<NET-ASSETS> 24,892,846
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,148,915
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (281,886)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,867,029
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (765,242)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (63,127)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,038,660
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,785,876)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 86,532
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (94,045)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 196,209
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 900,952
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3,686
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (805,970)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 195,426
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 339,590
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 24,452,793
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.14
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.69
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.30)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.71)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.82
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.10
<FN>
</TABLE>
