MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
NSAR-B, 1996-12-30
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 B000000 10/31/96
000 C000000 0000819673
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
001 B000000 811-5262
001 C000000 6179545000
002 A000000 500 BOYLSTON STREET
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02116
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  2
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
011 A00AA01 MFS FUND DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-27864
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
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02110
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 NEW YORK
015 C02AA02 NY
015 C03AA02 10081
015 E04AA02 X
015 A00AA03 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B00AA03 S
015 C01AA03 NEW YORK
015 C02AA03 NY
015 C03AA03 10286
015 E01AA03 X
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020 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS
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020 C000004     41
020 A000005 UBS SECURITIES
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020 C000005     33
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020 C000006     30
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<PAGE>      PAGE  3
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<PAGE>      PAGE  4
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
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<PAGE>      PAGE  8
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<PAGE>      PAGE  9
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<PAGE>      PAGE  10
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013 B010201 BOSTON
013 B020201 MA
013 B030201 02110
024  000200 Y
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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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<PAGE>      PAGE  15
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SIGNATURE   JAMES O.YOST                                 
TITLE       ASSISTANT TREASURER 
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
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   <NAME> MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       870240
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          6425337
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (1123277)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (87623)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        2785248
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (809863)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              98830
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        29158124
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         212718
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       462530
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           768788
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                1556836
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          68830498
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             8.03
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.56
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.18
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.55)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.80
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 013
   <NAME> MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         78398716
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        79757777
<RECEIVABLES>                                  3026634
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  233376
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                             86020
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                83103807
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       1672701
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      1159312
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            2832013
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      78252230
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           674704
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           132558
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        61857
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         752188
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       1205519
<NET-ASSETS>                                  80271794
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              6014777
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                (887349)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        5127428
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        427669
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       870240
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          6425337
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (266632)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (10865)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         962710
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (450415)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              29851
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        29158124
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         212718
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       462530
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           768788
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                1556836
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          68830498
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             8.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.57
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.18
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.55)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.08)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.12
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        422214589
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       471029753
<RECEIVABLES>                                  5821753
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  166494
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            201618
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               477219618
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       1645108
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       806417
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            2451525
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     403766324
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          9014099
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          7902613
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                        (375752)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       22567448
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      48810073
<NET-ASSETS>                                 474768093
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              4727103
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              1228398
<OTHER-INCOME>                                (448080)
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (9442046)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (3934625)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      26926412
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     38287928
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         61279715
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (102984)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                    (13664586)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                       13198505
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                 (12790324)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             703305
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        70439366
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         382012
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     35417804
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          4060523
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                9675027
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         453624017
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            18.16
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.72)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              19.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.58
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        422214589
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       471029753
<RECEIVABLES>                                  5821753
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  166494
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            201618
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               477219618
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       1645108
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       806417
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            2451525
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     403766324
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         14977356
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         13771603
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                        (375752)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       22567448
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      48810073
<NET-ASSETS>                                 474768093
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              4727103
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              1228398
<OTHER-INCOME>                                (448080)
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (9442046)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (3934625)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      26926412
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     38287928
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         61279715
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                    (21606221)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        3986473
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (3703963)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             923243
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        70439366
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         382012
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     35417804
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          4060523
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                9675027
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         453624017
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            17.97
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.70
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.59)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              18.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.39
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> MFS WORLD GROWTH FUND CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        422214589
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       471029753
<RECEIVABLES>                                  5821753
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  166494
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            201618
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               477219618
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       1645108
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       806417
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            2451525
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     403766324
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1060845
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           743411
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                        (375752)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       22567448
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      48810073
<NET-ASSETS>                                 474768093
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              4727103
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              1228398
<OTHER-INCOME>                                (448080)
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (9442046)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (3934625)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      26926412
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     38287928
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         61279715
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     (1215266)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         574128
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (300073)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              43379
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        70439366
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         382012
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     35417804
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          4060523
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                9675027
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         453624017
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            17.96
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.20)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.70
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.61)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              18.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.32
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>


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