<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000817473
<NAME> AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 469,813
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 510,203
<RECEIVABLES> 15,933
<ASSETS-OTHER> 35,579
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 1,805
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 563,520
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 135,613
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 18,244
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 153,857
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 382,694
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 24,806
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 18,252
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 7,289
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 45,642
<NET-ASSETS> 409,663
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 529
<INTEREST-INCOME> 39,583
<OTHER-INCOME> 3,255
<EXPENSES-NET> 9,612
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 33,755
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 4,538
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (31,970)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 0
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 29,099
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6,538
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 16
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3,235
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,351
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 9,612
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 360,704
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.08
<PER-SHARE-NII> 1.47
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.31)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.43)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.51
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.027
</TABLE>
