<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MSDW NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 110,075,382
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 108,066,725
<RECEIVABLES> 591,797
<ASSETS-OTHER> 11,037
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 108,669,559
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> (996,550)
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (224,543)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (1,221,093)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 341,571,695
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 12,713,073
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14,156,093
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 113,693
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (232,228,265)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2,008,657)
<NET-ASSETS> 107,448,466
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,471,079
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,020,250)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,450,829
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 785,318
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,589,338)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,646,809
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,337,136)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 12,098,662
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (13,748,892)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 207,210
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (12,854,273)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (233,013,583)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (360,075)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,024,437)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 111,401,090
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.18)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.85
</TABLE>
