<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> 93
<NAME> SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND - ADVISOR CLASS
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 815,603
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 811,178
<RECEIVABLES> 5,747
<ASSETS-OTHER> 10
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 819,334
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 56,115
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 395
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 56,510
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 501
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 866,479
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 50,144
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 32,246
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (99,731)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (4,425)
<NET-ASSETS> 762,824
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 48,242
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,682
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 43,560
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (20,193)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (4,264)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 19,103
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (13)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 63
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (23)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (69,614)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (79,538)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,657
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,682
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 240,290
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.47
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.49
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.49)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.19
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.84
</TABLE>
