<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> 81
<NAME> CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND - INVESTOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,167,903,107
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,167,903,107
<RECEIVABLES> 371,348,774
<ASSETS-OTHER> 7,896,246
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,547,148,127
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 195,563,333
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,348,167
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 196,911,500
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,350,189,770
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,350,189,770
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,344,848,817
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (46,857)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 3,350,236,627
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 165,668,025
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 15,793,823
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 149,874,202
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 788,434
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 150,662,636
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (149,874,202)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (741,577)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,329,319,665
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,447,775,263)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 143,840,428
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 25,431,687
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 15,702,285
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 15,793,823
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,322,691,967
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.05)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.48
</TABLE>
