<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> 71
<NAME> INFLATION-ADJUSTED TREASURY FUND-INVESTOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 26,672,612
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 26,704,799
<RECEIVABLES> 273,160
<ASSETS-OTHER> 87,691
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 27,065,650
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 18,365
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 28,288
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 27,220,781
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,828,831
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,977,564
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (233,972)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 32,188
<NET-ASSETS> 27,047,285
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 927,598
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 56,464
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 871,134
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (42,853)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 86,194
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 914,475
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (860,813)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,271,254
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (502,899)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 82,912
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 8,259,862
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (70,597)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 55,424
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 56,464
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 21,658,915
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.38
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.38)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.42
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.51
</TABLE>
