<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000870782
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 Y
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 LINCOLN NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL FUND INC
001 B000000 811-6233
001 C000000 2194556536
002 A000000 1300 SOUTH CLINTON STREET
002 B000000 FORT WAYNE
002 C000000 IN
002 D010000 46801
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
077 A000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
SIGNATURE ERIC JONES
TITLE DIR. MUTUAL FUND
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000870782
<NAME> INTERNATIONAL FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 386,844
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 438,903
<RECEIVABLES> 252
<ASSETS-OTHER> 6,043
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 445,198
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,460
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,363
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4,823
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 366,584
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 30,254
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 26,750
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 21,686
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 52,105
<NET-ASSETS> 440,375
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 6,619
<INTEREST-INCOME> 272
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,825
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,066
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 21,686
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 14,665
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 38,417
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,066
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 2,499
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,484
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,318
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 338
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 81,984
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,320
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,825
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 405,660
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.398
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.244
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<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.556
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.19
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
