<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS OF MASSMUTUAL PARTICIPATION INVESTORS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000831655
<NAME> MASSMUTUAL PARTICIPATION INVESTORS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 137,747,593
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 129,074,501
<RECEIVABLES> 3,245,572
<ASSETS-OTHER> 703,721
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 133,023,794
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 406,239
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 22,500,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,169,973
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 24,076,212
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 86,341,819
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 9,332,786
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 9,332,786
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,798,663
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 28,480,192
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (8,673,092)
<NET-ASSETS> 108,947,582
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 118,780
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,887,996
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,374,626
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,632,150
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8,575,809
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 964,836
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 14,172,795
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,239,869
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 11,932,926
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,717,654
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 19,904,383
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 483,489
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 763,418
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,374,626
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 102,792,403
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.40
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.50
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.33
</TABLE>
