<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000770540
<NAME> NVEST FUNDS TRUST 1
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> NVEST GROWTH FUND A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,679,475,589
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,712,254,913
<RECEIVABLES> 37,518,038
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 3,141
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,749,776,092
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,205,521
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,486,599
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 26,692,120
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,427,541,061
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 153,385,614
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 170,073,614
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 8,746,142
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 254,017,445
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 32,779,324
<NET-ASSETS> 1,723,083,972
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 17,004,406
<INTEREST-INCOME> 418,273
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 11,299,498
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,123,181
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 171,327,413
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (288,562,825)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (111,112,231)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,473,669
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 21,161,669
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,688,000)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 82,690,032
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 2,622,961
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 6,254,261
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 11,420,415
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,735,150,062
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.69)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.16
</TABLE>
