<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY WORLD MUTUAL FUNDS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000872825
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY WORLD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 21
<NAME> INTERNATIONAL DISCOVERY FUND-INVESTOR CLASS
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,602,199
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,266,042
<RECEIVABLES> 10,360
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 29,308
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,305,710
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 41,700
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 6,235
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 47,935
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 1,184
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,433,702
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 118,437,660
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 92,651,386
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (12,451)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 171,258
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 664,082
<NET-ASSETS> 2,257,775
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 346
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,377
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 16,249
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (8,426)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 176,087
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 8,131
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 175,792
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (84,602)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 56,127
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (35,216)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,876
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 666,873
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 905,541
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 16,242
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 16,249
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,135,132
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.20
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.30
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.88)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.35
</TABLE>
