<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000882152
<NAME> MUNIYIELD CALIFORNIA FUND, INC.
<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> 403349483
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 407162626
<RECEIVABLES> 17276291
<ASSETS-OTHER> 36888
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 424475805
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 430426
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 430426
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 140000000
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 300438764
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 21184475
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 21184475
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3759218
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (15669084)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (8296662)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3813143
<NET-ASSETS> 424045379
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 12323769
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1415863)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10907906
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (15669084)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 17739199
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 12978021
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (8604245)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1931816
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3897517
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (8296662)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1052783
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1415863
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 423197856
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.32
<PER-SHARE-NII> .53
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .09
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.41)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.41
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .67
</TABLE>
