<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 07/31/1999
000 C000000 0000769220
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-4304
001 C000000 2152552127
002 A000000 2005 MARKET STREET
002 B000000 PHILADELPHIA
002 C000000 PA
002 D010000 19103
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 GOVERNMENT INCOME SERIES
007 C030100 N
022 A000001 LUMMIS AND CO
022 B000001 04-3200030
022 C000001 7005179
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS AND CO
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 4936247
022 D000002 305035
022 A000003 MORGAN GUARANTY
022 B000003 13-3224016
022 C000003 3682105
022 D000003 232594
022 A000004 CREDIT SWISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 B000004 13-5659485
022 C000004 3313053
022 D000004 393751
022 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC
022 B000005 13-2518466
022 C000005 3441074
022 D000005 181622
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY AND CO INC
022 B000006 13-2655998
022 C000006 1737936
022 D000006 372511
022 A000007 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE
022 B000007 13-5674085
<PAGE> PAGE 2
022 C000007 1421247
022 D000007 324284
022 A000008 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000008 22-2347336
022 C000008 694277
022 D000008 547302
022 A000009 STARBOARD CAPITAL MARKETS INC
022 B000009 23-2770786
022 C000009 563453
022 D000009 581543
022 A000010 SPEAR LEEDS AND KELLOGG
022 B000010 13-5515160
022 C000010 332629
022 D000010 492538
023 C000000 27127204
023 D000000 3431184
024 00AA00 N
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.
080 B00AA00 GULF INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 40000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 157
082 A00AA00 Y
082 B00AA00 50
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
028 A010100 9458
028 A020100 675
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 6767
028 B010100 5877
028 B020100 621
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 6832
028 C010100 3267
028 C020100 650
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 16836
028 D010100 4177
028 D020100 617
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 6631
028 E010100 4757
<PAGE> PAGE 3
028 E020100 645
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 7987
028 F010100 4226
028 F020100 613
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 5268
028 G010100 31762
028 G020100 3821
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 50321
028 H000100 14210
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 320
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 40
031 B000100 0
032 000100 280
033 000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 0
044 000100 0
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 3.9
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
062 M000100 28.9
062 N000100 7.7
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 14.7
062 Q000100 44.8
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 8.0
070 A010100 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 4
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 Y
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 Y
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 270301
071 B000100 254734
071 C000100 179459
071 D000100 142
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 13431
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 1054
072 G000100 72
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 502
072 J000100 4
072 K000100 22
072 L000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
072 M000100 7
072 N000100 51
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 0
072 S000100 8
072 T000100 630
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 5
072 X000100 2355
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 11076
072AA000100 0
072BB000100 4062
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 6313
072DD010100 11092
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.4740
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 17
074 B000100 6516
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 168210
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 109
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 2575
074 M000100 46
074 N000100 177473
074 O000100 8339
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 999
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 168135
074 U010100 23035
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 7.30
<PAGE> PAGE 6
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 7238
074 Y000100 2520
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 181284
076 000100 0.00
SIGNATURE KENNETH E. CROCKETT, SR.
TITLE BLUE SKY ADMIN.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 204,855,405
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 209,434,571
<RECEIVABLES> 13,387,713
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> (3,005,742)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 219,816,844
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,227,638
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 849,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25,076,745
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 249,851
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 226,085,589
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 17,747,012
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,449,683
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 18,152
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (36,202,022)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,624,833
<NET-ASSETS> 138,324,380
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,665,381
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,178,139
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,487,242
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,291,134)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,783,449
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,979,557
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 4,247,603
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,553,829
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,587,390
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 330,890
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 34,184,179
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (623)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,301,672)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 539,661
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,178,139
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 138,271,450
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.72
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.237
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.237
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.79
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.23
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND B CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 204,855,405
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 209,434,571
<RECEIVABLES> 13,387,713
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> (3,005,742)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 219,816,844
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,227,638
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 849,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25,076,745
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 249,851
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 226,085,589
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,861,002
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,766,976
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 18,152
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (36,202,022)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,624,833
<NET-ASSETS> 22,299,454
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,665,381
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,178,139
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,487,242
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,291,134)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,783,449
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,979,557
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 538,961
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,703,056
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 645,521
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 36,491
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 34,184,179
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (623)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,301,672)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 539,661
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,178,139
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 19,976,543
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.72
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.212
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.212
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.79
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.93
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND C CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 204,855,405
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 209,434,571
<RECEIVABLES> 13,387,713
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> (3,005,742)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 219,816,844
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,227,638
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 849,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25,076,745
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 249,851
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 226,085,589
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 504,067
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 265,149
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 18,152
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (36,202,022)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,624,833
<NET-ASSETS> 3,928,816
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,665,381
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,178,139
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,487,242
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,291,134)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,783,449
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,979,557
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 89,510
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 416,324
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 187,048
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 9,642
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 34,184,179
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (623)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,301,672)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 539,661
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,178,139
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,333,881
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.72
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.212
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.212
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.79
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.93
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 014
<NAME> U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 204,855,405
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 209,434,571
<RECEIVABLES> 13,387,713
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> (3,005,742)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 219,816,844
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,227,638
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 849,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25,076,745
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 249,851
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 226,085,589
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,873,054
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,313,960
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 18,152
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (36,202,022)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,624,833
<NET-ASSETS> 30,187,449
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,665,381
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,178,139
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,487,242
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,291,134)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,783,449
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6,979,557
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 629,945
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,249,040
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 768,075
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 78,129
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 34,184,179
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (623)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,301,672)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 539,661
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,178,139
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 19,623,297
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.72
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.251
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.251
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.79
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.93
</TABLE>
Report of Independent Auditors
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Delaware Group Government Fund, Inc.
In planning and performing our audit of the financial
statements of Delaware Group Government Fund, Inc. (the "Fund")
for the year ended July 31, 1999, we considered its internal
control, including control activities for safeguarding
securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for
the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial
statements and to comply with the requirements of Form N-SAR,
and not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and
maintaining internal control. In fulfilling this
responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Those controls include the safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, errors or
fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any
evaluation of internal control to future periods is subject to
the risk that it may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and
operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness
is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more
of the specific internal control components does not reduce to
a relatively low level the risk that errors or fraud in amounts
that would be material in relation to the financial statements
being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely
period by employees in the normal course of performing their
assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for
safeguarding securities, that we consider to be material
weaknesses as defined above at July 31, 1999.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
the board of directors and management of Delaware Group
Government Fund, Inc. and the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by
anyone other than these specified parties.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 6, 1999
