<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000856128
<NAME> MFS SPECIAL VALUE TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 79456916
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 87327964
<RECEIVABLES> 2760666
<ASSETS-OTHER> 15313339
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 130052
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 105532021
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 580250
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 15607987
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 16188237
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 80600441
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6439215
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6389237
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (692437)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1531981
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7903799
<NET-ASSETS> 89343784
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 170321
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3381171
<OTHER-INCOME> (2402)
<EXPENSES-NET> (564222)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2984868
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3278715
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (738051)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5525532
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2984868)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (5517162)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 49978
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2258796)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3770428
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (692437)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 424286
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 586899
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 90941735
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.46
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.39
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.46)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.86)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.29
</TABLE>