<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 10/31/98
000 C000000 0000768845
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 Y
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 IDS LIFE SERIES FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-4299
001 C000000 6126712152
002 A000000 IDS TOWER 10
002 B000000 MINNEAPOLIS
002 C000000 MN
002 D010000 55440
002 D020000 0010
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 6
015 A00AA01 AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 MINNEAPOLIS
015 C02AA01 MN
015 C03AA01 55402
015 C04AA01 2307
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 MORGAN STANLEY TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 BROOKLYN
015 C02AA02 NY
015 C03AA02 11201
015 C04AA02 2775
015 E04AA02 X
077 A000000 Y
024 000100 Y
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 2
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
071 A000100 454972
071 B000100 499533
071 C000100 794053
071 D000100 57
072 A000100 6
072 I000100 0
072 J000100 56
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 0
072 M000100 3
072 N000100 0
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 8
072 S000100 0
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 1
072 X000100 3015
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 -729
072AA000100 0
072BB000100 122280
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 82318
072DD010100 0
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 139607
073 A010100 0.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 4.9300
073 C000100 0.0000
074 N000100 800903
074 T000100 778129
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 973107
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 22.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 5.7
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 67.8
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 4.5
071 A000200 14313
071 B000200 7798
071 C000200 82394
071 D000200 9
072 A000200 6
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 2891
072AA000200 0
072BB000200 156
072CC010200 0
072CC020200 2249
072DD010200 2891
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 589
073 A010200 0.3400
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0700
073 C000200 0.0000
074 N000200 90918
074 T000200 89356
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 98028
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 3.0
062 D000300 0.0
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 3.8
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 93.2
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 0.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
071 A000300 0
071 B000300 0
071 C000300 0
071 D000300 0
072 A000300 6
074 N000300 37207
074 T000300 36914
075 A000300 39460
075 B000300 0
076 000300 0.00
062 A000400 N
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
071 A000400 298555
071 B000400 298628
071 C000400 513193
071 D000400 58
072 A000400 6
074 N000400 567779
074 T000400 559178
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 645660
062 A000500 Y
062 B000500 0.0
062 C000500 0.0
062 D000500 0.0
062 E000500 0.0
062 F000500 0.0
062 G000500 0.0
062 H000500 0.0
062 I000500 0.0
062 J000500 0.0
062 K000500 0.0
062 L000500 0.0
062 M000500 26.2
062 N000500 71.4
<PAGE> PAGE 5
062 O000500 0.0
062 P000500 0.0
062 Q000500 0.0
062 R000500 2.4
071 A000500 9462
071 B000500 8108
071 C000500 14517
071 D000500 56
072 A000500 6
074 N000500 16678
074 T000500 16303
075 A000500 0
075 B000500 17055
024 000600 Y
062 A000600 N
062 B000600 0.0
062 C000600 0.0
062 D000600 0.0
062 E000600 0.0
062 F000600 0.0
062 G000600 0.0
062 H000600 0.0
062 I000600 0.0
062 J000600 0.0
062 K000600 0.0
062 L000600 0.0
062 M000600 0.0
062 N000600 0.0
062 O000600 0.0
062 P000600 0.0
062 Q000600 0.0
062 R000600 0.0
071 A000600 64201
071 B000600 72786
071 C000600 201475
071 D000600 32
072 A000600 6
072 B000600 969
072 C000600 1920
072 D000600 0
072 E000600 0
072 F000600 1074
072 G000600 0
072 H000600 0
074 N000600 228909
074 T000600 227189
075 A000600 0
075 B000600 254973
SIGNATURE MARY ELLEN MINENKO
TITLE COUNSELOR
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> EQUITY PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 676297414
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 791412688
<RECEIVABLES> 9377845
<ASSETS-OTHER> 112936
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 800903469
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 17335114
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5439461
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22774575
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 791138226
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 34655865
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 27496521
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 729264
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 126282735
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 114002667
<NET-ASSETS> 778128894
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1189578
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3015133
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (729264)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (122280402)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (82318340)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (205328006)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 139606605
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2108937
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 254081
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5304488
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (155688032)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 135604272
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 2253021
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2947808
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3015133
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 839928912
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 33.96
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (6.56)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 4.93
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .72
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 15369909
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 16107701
<RECEIVABLES> 214926
<ASSETS-OTHER> 354885
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 16677512
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 252021
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 122844
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 374865
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 15518646
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1569766
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1435419
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 14715
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 60924
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 737792
<NET-ASSETS> 16302647
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 453085
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 59723
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 393362
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 60924
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 364166
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 818452
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 378647
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 130692
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 14715
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 248493
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 165170
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 51024
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1696073
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 130692
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 14715
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 52258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 62273
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 14889926
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.18
<PER-SHARE-NII> .27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .30
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .27
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .09
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.39
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .80
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> INCOME PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 89212396
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 88495740
<RECEIVABLES> 1951054
<ASSETS-OTHER> 471537
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 90918331
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 994755
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 567198
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1561953
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 90222332
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8996320
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 8052771
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 20954
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 170252
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (716656)
<NET-ASSETS> 89356378
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 154
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3199837
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 308760
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2891231
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (155924)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2248546)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 486761
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2891149
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 589189
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 845053
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 245131
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 343627
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 6583097
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 20872
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 574861
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 302244
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 308760
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 86119475
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.28
<PER-SHARE-NII> .34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.28)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .34
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .07
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .72
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 207554045
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 226216489
<RECEIVABLES> 2558222
<ASSETS-OTHER> 134474
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 228909185
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1088479
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 631680
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1720159
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 209696421
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13731555
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 11867740
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 64419
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 1121081
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 18678105
<NET-ASSETS> 227189026
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1922171
<INTEREST-INCOME> 966566
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1187272
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1701465
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1061742)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (14950514)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (14310791)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1733122
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 7835052
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1448167
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 92719
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 508367
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 9616309
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 7775713
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 32762
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1074198
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1187272
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 225529058
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.33
<PER-SHARE-NII> .13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .13
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .62
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.05
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> MANAGED PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 478466398
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 544242797
<RECEIVABLES> 23470258
<ASSETS-OTHER> 65471
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 567778526
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4948969
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3651485
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8600454
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 512872659
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 32940445
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 29313456
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 48746
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 19402733
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 65756892
<NET-ASSETS> 559178072
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1448523
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7598521
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2048171
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6998873
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (18748739)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (32098373)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (43848239)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6949361
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 36482550
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1592782
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 366779
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2400986
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (21519288)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 35828556
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 98258
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1981877
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 564703008
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.81
<PER-SHARE-NII> .22
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.61)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .22
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.22
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .72
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 7
<NAME> MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 36853234
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 36853234
<RECEIVABLES> 133144
<ASSETS-OTHER> 220941
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 37207319
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 293028
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 293028
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 36915279
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 36917767
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 34376580
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 988
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 36914291
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 966153
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 103820
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 862333
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (19)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 862314
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 862333
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 11512828
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 9834057
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 862416
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2540940
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 969
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 86516
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 103820
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 34512102
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .02
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .60
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
