<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811922
<NAME> MFS GOVERNMENT MARKETS INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 437643694
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 418569561
<RECEIVABLES> 7677516
<ASSETS-OTHER> 23157
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 6859
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 426277093
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 723612
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4806822
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5530434
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 491925777
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 61620655
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 64454155
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (1849295)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (49779239)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (19550584)
<NET-ASSETS> 420746659
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 15750046
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2019134
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13730912
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7546464)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (173757)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6010691
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (15526254)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2833500)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (26431053)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (53953)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (42232775)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1519710
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2038286
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 434258083
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.94
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.22
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.08)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.94
</TABLE>
