<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MSDW NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 92,743,648
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 92,214,910
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 511,119
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20,787
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 92,746,816
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (1,051,332)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (1,051,332)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 324,065,115
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10,657,615
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14,156,093
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 380,595
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (232,221,488)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (528,738)
<NET-ASSETS> 91,695,484
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,689,529
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,851,933)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,837,596
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 792,094
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (109,419)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,520,271
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (4,457,000)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 27,659,513
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (31,548,244)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 390,253
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (28,607,255)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (233,013,583)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (685,082)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,861,958)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 105,397,310
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.40
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.06
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.60
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.76
</TABLE>
