<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME
TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000773674
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 21
<NAME> INTERMEDIATE-TERM TREASURY FUND-INVESTOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 342,265,583
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 335,403,437
<RECEIVABLES> 20,077,334
<ASSETS-OTHER> 935,161
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 356,415,932
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 14,557,110
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 174,766
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14,731,876
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 328,922
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 362,863,165
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 32,892,172
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 36,261,682
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (14,645,885)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (6,862,146)
<NET-ASSETS> 341,684,056
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 21,558,592
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,978,487
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19,580,105
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (14,645,882)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (644,750)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,289,473
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (19,084,472)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,722,118)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 17,426,887
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (28,028,748)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,816,504
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (99,927,598)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,766,402
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,916,645
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,978,487
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 373,602,448
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.45
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.53
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.37)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.53)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.05)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
</TABLE>
