<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 12/31/98
000 C000000 0000868648
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
001 B000000 811-6190
001 C000000 6172921562
002 A000000 BOSTON
002 B000000 MA
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS CORP
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-0000
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02109
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST CO.
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 99
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 WARBURG DILLON READ
020 C000001 1136
020 A000002 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
020 C000002 1119
020 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH
020 B000003 13-5674085
020 C000003 938
020 A000004 DRESDNER KLEINWORT BENSON
020 C000004 651
020 A000005 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005 636
020 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
020 C000006 446
020 A000007 J P MORGAN SECURITIES INC
020 B000007 13-3224016
020 C000007 408
020 A000008 SOCIETE GENERALE CORP
020 C000008 345
020 A000009 ABN AMRO BANK
020 C000009 255
020 A000010 C L GLOBAL PARTNERS SECURITIES
020 B000010 13-2602298
020 C000010 212
021 000000 7676
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 2480669
022 D000001 26197
022 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000002 13-2518466
022 C000002 1426958
022 D000002 19857
022 A000003 WAARBURG DILLON READ
022 C000003 1232951
022 D000003 1357
022 A000004 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES
022 B000004 13-3224016
022 C000004 548453
022 D000004 0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH, INC
022 B000005 13-5674085
022 C000005 504450
022 D000005 7038
022 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 C000006 396124
022 D000006 49374
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
022 C000007 163013
022 D000007 20627
022 A000008 HOUSEHOLD FINANCE
022 C000008 31995
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 ABN AMRO BANK
022 C000009 25520
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 CITICORP
022 C000010 24926
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 6860412
023 D000000 124450
024 000000 N
025 A000001 DELETE
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 430654
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 225165
028 B010000 301697
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 184648
028 C010000 326015
028 C020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 247212
028 D010000 336968
028 D020000 1
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 248221
028 E010000 270361
028 E020000 -1
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 229620
028 F010000 396069
028 F020000 94592
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 333589
028 G010000 2061764
028 G020000 94592
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 1468455
028 H000000 2061764
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 5034
030 B000000 5.75
030 C000000 3.50
031 A000000 818
031 B000000 0
032 000000 4216
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 1006
036 A000000 Y
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 9340
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
<PAGE> PAGE 5
048 A020000 0.800
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.700
048 C010000 500000
048 C020000 0.650
048 D010000 5000000
048 D020000 0.600
048 E010000 5000000
048 E020000 0.575
048 F010000 5000000
048 F020000 0.555
048 G010000 5000000
048 G020000 0.540
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21500000
048 K020000 0.530
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 Y
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 500
062 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 C000000 Y
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 Y
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 N
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 2180087
071 B000000 1507803
071 C000000 3309809
071 D000000 46
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 5332
072 C000000 11432
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 10955
072 G000000 17
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 3867
072 J000000 1709
072 K000000 395
072 L000000 77
072 M000000 31
072 N000000 207
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 39
072 S000000 9
072 T000000 9340
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 393
072 X000000 27039
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 -10275
072AA000000 0
072BB000000 183917
072CC010000 193858
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 22569
072DD020000 7287
072EE000000 38506
073 A010000 0.2110
073 A020000 0.0990
073 B000000 0.3600
073 C000000 0.0000
<PAGE> PAGE 8
074 A000000 422
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 126975
074 D000000 0
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 3837993
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 7985
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 30970
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 4004345
074 O000000 34798
074 P000000 9285
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 33010
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 3927252
074 U010000 112805
074 U020000 76471
074 V010000 19.23
074 V020000 18.91
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 255043
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 3461595
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 N
080 A000000 FEDERAL INSURANCE CO
080 B000000 NATIONAL FIRE INSURANCE CO
080 C000000 50
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 98
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam International Growth Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,300,386,391
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,964,968,031
<RECEIVABLES> 38,954,349
<ASSETS-OTHER> 422,348
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,004,344,728
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 34,797,639
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 42,295,541
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 77,093,180
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,470,517,892
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 112,805,084
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 91,374,038
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (19,405,736)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (188,469,629)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 664,609,021
<NET-ASSETS> 3,927,251,548
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11,432,155
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,332,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,039,222
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (10,274,752)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (183,917,071)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 193,858,413
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (333,410)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (22,568,753)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (38,505,930)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 87,094,073
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (68,780,243)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,117,216
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 581,662,518
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,677,636
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 66,091,770
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,955,094
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 27,717,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,909,900,029
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.17)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.21)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.23
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .66
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam International Growth Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,300,386,391
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,964,968,031
<RECEIVABLES> 38,954,349
<ASSETS-OTHER> 422,348
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,004,344,728
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 34,797,639
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 42,295,541
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 77,093,180
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,470,517,892
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 76,470,548
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 62,505,510
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (19,405,736)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (188,469,629)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 664,609,021
<NET-ASSETS> 3,927,251,548
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11,432,155
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,332,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,039,222
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (10,274,752)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (183,917,071)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 193,858,413
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (333,410)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,287,243)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (26,499,065)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 20,840,947
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (8,484,291)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,608,382
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 581,662,518
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,677,636
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 66,091,770
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,955,094
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 27,717,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,268,501,409
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.63
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.10)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.91
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.03
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam International Growth Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,300,386,391
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,964,968,031
<RECEIVABLES> 38,954,349
<ASSETS-OTHER> 422,348
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,004,344,728
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 34,797,639
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 42,295,541
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 77,093,180
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,470,517,892
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8,351,045
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,063,956
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (19,405,736)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (188,469,629)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 664,609,021
<NET-ASSETS> 3,927,251,548
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11,432,155
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,332,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,039,222
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (10,274,752)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (183,917,071)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 193,858,413
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (333,410)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,060,969)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2,915,639)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,689,285
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,610,182)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 207,986
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 581,662,518
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,677,636
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 66,091,770
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,955,094
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 27,717,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 142,050,574
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.85
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.18)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.11
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .91
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam International Growth Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 3,300,386,391
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,964,968,031
<RECEIVABLES> 38,954,349
<ASSETS-OTHER> 422,348
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,004,344,728
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 34,797,639
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 42,295,541
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 77,093,180
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,470,517,892
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,891,689
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,537,829
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (19,405,736)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (188,469,629)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 664,609,021
<NET-ASSETS> 3,927,251,548
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11,432,155
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,332,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 27,039,222
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (10,274,752)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (183,917,071)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 193,858,413
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (333,410)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,891,655)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2,723,694)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,485,178
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,376,781)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 245,463
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 581,662,518
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 23,677,636
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 66,091,770
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,955,094
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 27,717,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 141,142,968
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.05
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.17)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 19.28
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .53
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
