<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
High Income Trust Semiannual Report for the period ended 5/31/00 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000830160
<NAME> KEMPER HIGH INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 010
<NAME> KEMPER HIGH INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<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> 308,928
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 264,210
<RECEIVABLES> 7,048
<ASSETS-OTHER> 9
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 271,267
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,730
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 50,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,549
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 54,278
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 293,692
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 30,242
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,591
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (33,564)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (44,731)
<NET-ASSETS> 216,989
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 443
<INTEREST-INCOME> 16,585
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3,056
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,972
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4,507)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (16,405)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (6,940)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (14,645)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 163
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (20,341)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,264
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (29,057)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 981
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,835
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,056
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.89
<PER-SHARE-NII> .46
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.49)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.18
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.64
</TABLE>
