<PAGE> PAGE 1
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004 000000 N
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006 000000 N
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007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
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011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02116
012 A00AA01 MFS SERVICE CENTER, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-1316
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02116
015 A00AA01 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 NEW YORK
015 C02AA02 NY
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015 E04AA02 X
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020 B000004 13-3443395
020 C000004 18
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020 B000005 13-5674085
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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022 C000010 17787
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
013 A000101 ERNST & YOUNG
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
042 F000100 0
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 R010100 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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<PAGE> PAGE 14
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SIGNATURE JAMES O.YOST
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
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THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
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IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
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</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
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<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1821199
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (640581)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1567580
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2748198
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 5948
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 63455
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 370
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1205174)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (37878)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (487329)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 269981
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 583236
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 47110672
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.53
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.17
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.27
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.68
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.23
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS A AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 370236640
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 373542058
<RECEIVABLES> 14655686
<ASSETS-OTHER> 39391
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 160434
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 388397569
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10848314
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1215705
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12064019
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 365532056
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7938392
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7535626
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 685008
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 8094011
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3392491
<NET-ASSETS> 376333550
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1549776
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1737306
<OTHER-INCOME> (189107)
<EXPENSES-NET> 3992789
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 894814
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8767155
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (23262086)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (15389745)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1679929
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2550603
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2228456
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 80619
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4011742)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 209806
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3013096
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1625423
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4055425
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 364378192
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.45
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.67)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.22
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.56
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.68
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS B AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 370236640
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 373542058
<RECEIVABLES> 14655686
<ASSETS-OTHER> 39391
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 160434
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 388397569
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10848314
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1215705
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12064019
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 365532056
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14132414
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13685392
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 685008
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 8094011
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3392491
<NET-ASSETS> 376333550
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1549776
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1737306
<OTHER-INCOME> (189107)
<EXPENSES-NET> 3992789
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 894814
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8767155
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (23262086)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (15389745)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1881561
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3358428
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2995244
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 83838
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4011742)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 209806
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3013096
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1625423
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4055425
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 364378192
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.32
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.68)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.13
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS C AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 023
<NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 370236640
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 373542058
<RECEIVABLES> 14655686
<ASSETS-OTHER> 39391
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 160434
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 388397569
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10848314
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1215705
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 12064019
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 365532056
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 756062
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 684838
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 685008
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 8094011
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3392491
<NET-ASSETS> 376333550
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1549776
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1737306
<OTHER-INCOME> (189107)
<EXPENSES-NET> 3992789
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 894814
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8767155
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (23262086)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (15389745)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 124750
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 213521
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 146591
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4294
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4011742)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 209806
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3013096
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1625423
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4055425
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 364378192
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.68)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.17
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.43
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.43
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
