<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE SEMI-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> 93
<NAME> SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND - ADVISOR CLASS
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 748,974
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 753,035
<RECEIVABLES> 50,189
<ASSETS-OTHER> 180
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 803,404
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 41,041
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 505
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 41,546
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 3
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 859,480
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 324
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 50
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (101,686)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 4,061
<NET-ASSETS> 761,858
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 24,686
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,218
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,468
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,955)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 8,486
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 28,999
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (43)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 288
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (19)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (966)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (79,538)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,201
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,218
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,499
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.19
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.08
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.26)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.27
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.84
</TABLE>
