<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000835620
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH WORLD INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> CLASS C
<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> 228522927
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 206094629
<RECEIVABLES> 5501738
<ASSETS-OTHER> 111377
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 211707744
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2767450
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2767450
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 439216344
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 367741
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 440812
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (207847684)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (22428366)
<NET-ASSETS> 2239656
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 61172
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 11851786
<EXPENSES-NET> (1767402)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10145556
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (14007879)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 6747418
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2885095
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (108152)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 57457
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (138421)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7893
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (43308786)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (193839804)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (29175784)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 684383
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1767402
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2509440
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.28
<PER-SHARE-NII> .27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.19)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 6.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.79
</TABLE>