<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000851170
<NAME> MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<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> 619825489
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 577535829
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 936664
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5219520
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5219520
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 61913839
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 65145239
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (4964119)
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (29063726)
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<NET-ASSETS> 586878193
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 64680
<INTEREST-INCOME> 25292141
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (2772588)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22584233
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7177490)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10957925)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4448818
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (23913045)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3231400)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (45715987)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (3635307)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (21886236)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2095538
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2810876
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 608876967
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<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.92
</TABLE>
