<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> 81
<NAME> CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND - INVESTOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2,277,571,261
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,277,571,261
<RECEIVABLES> 799,297,290
<ASSETS-OTHER> 361,579,250
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,438,447,801
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 125,140,419
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 125,140,419
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,313,216,741
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,313,216,741
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,350,189,770
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 90,641
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 3,313,307,382
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 100,948,896
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,866,992
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 93,081,904
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,105,063
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 94,186,967
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (93,081,904)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,061,279)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,034,822,694
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,161,195,630)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 89,399,907
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (36,929,245)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 7,812,329
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 7,866,992
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,315,952,855
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.47
</TABLE>
