<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> 21
<NAME> INTERMEDIATE-TERM TREASURY FUND-INVESTOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 331,819,308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 334,491,862
<RECEIVABLES> 5,630,790
<ASSETS-OTHER> 330,369
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 340,453,021
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 216,880
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 216,880
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 324,168
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 355,658,539
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 32,416,811
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 32,892,172
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (18,419,120)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,672,554
<NET-ASSETS> 340,236,141
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10,155,498
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 866,672
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9,288,826
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,773,235)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 9,534,700
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 15,050,291
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (9,016,026)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,655,105
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,893,899)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 763,433
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,447,915)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,766,402
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 835,347
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 866,672
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 323,470,120
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.03
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.18
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
</TABLE>
