<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000763749
<NAME> VOYAGEUR MUTUAL FUNDS III
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 053
<NAME> DELAWARE TAX EFFICIENT EQUITY FUND C CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 53,541,612
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 59,095,027
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 69,106
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 59,164,133
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 460,344
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 460,344
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 59,501,238
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 622,343
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,081,160
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6,350,864)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 5,553,415
<NET-ASSETS> 6,707,051
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 891,021
<INTEREST-INCOME> 149,418
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,458,707
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (418,268)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,007,008)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (4,848,748)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (8,274,024)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,283,208
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 7,713,223
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (30,978,408)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,343,856)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 621,986
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,461,053
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 10,627,154
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.660
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.089)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.791)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.780
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.070
</TABLE>
