<PAGE>
PAGE 1
000 B000000 04/30/96
000 C000000 0000888227
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST
001 B000000 811-5083
001 C000000 2122932048
002 A000000 99 PARK AVENUE
002 B000000 NEW YORK
002 C000000 NY
002 D010000 10016
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 5
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 GOLD & NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 WORLDWIDE BOND FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 WORLDWIDE BALANCED FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 WORLDWIDE HARD ASSETS FUND
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C020500 WORLDWIDE EMERGING MARKETS FUND
007 C030500 N
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
007 C011100 11
007 C011200 12
007 C011300 13
007 C011400 14
007 C011500 15
007 C011600 16
007 C011700 17
007 C011800 18
007 C011900 19
<PAGE>
PAGE 2
007 C012000 20
007 C012100 21
007 C012200 22
007 C012300 23
007 C012400 24
007 C012500 25
007 C012600 26
007 C012700 27
007 C012800 28
007 C012900 29
007 C013000 30
007 C013100 31
007 C013200 32
007 C013300 33
007 C013400 34
007 C013500 35
007 C013600 36
007 C013700 37
007 C013800 38
007 C013900 39
007 C014000 40
015 A00AA01 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BROOKLYN
015 C02AA01 NY
015 C03AA01 11245
015 E01AA01 X
020 A000001 BAIN SECURITIES
020 B000001 13-3217675
020 C000001 20
020 A000002 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 C000002 20
020 A000003 ORD MINNETT
020 C000003 17
020 A000004 JB WERE & SONS
020 C000004 16
020 A000005 SCOTIA MCLEOD
020 C000005 14
020 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY
020 C000006 13
020 A000007 HOWARD WEIL
020 C000007 11
020 A000008 BURNS FRY INC.
020 B000008 13-2692943
020 C000008 10
020 A000009 BUNTING WERBURG
020 C000009 9
020 A000010 GOEPEL
020 C000010 8
021 000000 234
022 A000001 GE COMPANY
<PAGE>
PAGE 3
022 C000001 2416098
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORP
022 C000002 779945
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH
022 C000003 635933
022 D000003 32185
022 A000004 HSBC
022 C000004 274811
022 D000004 44421
022 A000005 BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA
022 C000005 112544
022 D000005 0
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY
022 C000006 14309
022 D000006 52558
022 A000007 SALOMAN
022 C000007 30177
022 D000007 29260
022 A000008 GE CAPITAL CREDIT CORP.
022 C000008 43403
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 GX CLARKE
022 C000009 38934
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 UBS SECURITIES
022 C000010 12328
022 D000010 16011
023 C000000 4419953
023 D000000 227639
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 N
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
<PAGE>
PAGE 4
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE CO.
080 C00AA00 10000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 13
082 A00AA00 Y
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
028 A010100 27536
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 13345
028 B010100 14037
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 15217
028 C010100 34566
028 C020100 0
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 22990
028 D010100 32093
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 23962
028 E010100 24547
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 19134
028 F010100 29305
028 F020100 0
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 19609
028 G010100 162084
028 G020100 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 5
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 114257
028 H000100 0
030 A000100 0
030 B000100 0.00
030 C000100 0.00
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 0.0
071 A000100 55602
071 B000100 34134
071 C000100 131265
071 D000100 26
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 552
072 C000100 2066
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 1252
072 G000100 34
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 0
072 J000100 35
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 32
072 M000100 18
072 N000100 7
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 46
072 S000100 0
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 6
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 74
072 X000100 1498
072 Y000100 5
072 Z000100 1125
072AA000100 3087
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 28056
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 0
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 130.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 3842
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 0
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 179162
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 128
074 J000100 205
074 K000100 3606
074 L000100 0
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 186943
074 O000100 451
074 P000100 2
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 120
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 0
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 186370
074 U010100 11013
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 16.92
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 19
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 139807
076 000100 0.00
028 A010200 837
028 A020200 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 7
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 499
028 B010200 304
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 470
028 C010200 493
028 C020200 0
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 370
028 D010200 228
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 175
028 E010200 237
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 321
028 F010200 115
028 F020200 0
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 155
028 G010200 2214
028 G020200 0
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 1990
028 H000200 0
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 22.2
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 2.4
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 24.7
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 50.7
062 R000200 0.0
063 A000200 0
063 B000200 4.9
071 A000200 171820513
071 B000200 159544836
071 C000200 0
071 D000200 208
<PAGE>
PAGE 8
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 6952
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 986
072 G000200 32
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 0
072 J000200 32
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 25
072 M000200 0
072 N000200 0
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 0
072 S000200 0
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 107
072 X000200 1182
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 5770
072AA000200 1451
072BB000200 0
072CC010200 0
072CC020200 706
072DD010200 8098
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.8200
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 229
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 25951
074 D000200 79446
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 0
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 1762
074 M000200 897
074 N000200 108285
<PAGE>
PAGE 9
074 O000200 0
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 744
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 0
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 107541
074 U010200 9885
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 10.88
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 10
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 109736
076 000200 0.00
028 A010300 35
028 A020300 0
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 1
028 B010300 55
028 B020300 0
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 1
028 C010300 34
028 C020300 0
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 10
028 D010300 129
028 D020300 0
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 3
028 E010300 77
028 E020300 0
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 5
028 F010300 140
028 F020300 0
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 6
028 G010300 470
028 G020300 0
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 26
028 H000300 0
062 A000300 N
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
<PAGE>
PAGE 10
062 D000300 0.0
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 0.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
071 A000300 138
071 B000300 0
071 C000300 0
071 D000300 0
072 A000300 12
072 B000300 0
072 C000300 1
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 1
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 0
072 J000300 2
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 0
072 M000300 0
072 N000300 0
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 0
072 R000300 11
072 S000300 0
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 1
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 2
072 X000300 17
072 Y000300 17
072 Z000300 1
072AA000300 0
072BB000300 0
072CC010300 11
072CC020300 0
072DD010300 0
072DD020300 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 11
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.0000
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 450
074 B000300 0
074 C000300 0
074 D000300 0
074 E000300 0
074 F000300 148
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 0
074 K000300 15
074 L000300 0
074 M000300 6
074 N000300 619
074 O000300 0
074 P000300 0
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 11
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 608
074 U010300 56
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 10.29
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 7
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 187
076 000300 0.00
028 A010400 119
028 A020400 0
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 0
028 B010400 1
028 B020400 0
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 0
028 C010400 160
028 C020400 0
028 C030400 0
028 C040400 0
028 D010400 123
<PAGE>
PAGE 12
028 D020400 0
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 0
028 E010400 155
028 E020400 0
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 7
028 F010400 202
028 F020400 0
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 0
028 G010400 760
028 G020400 0
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 7
028 H000400 0
062 A000400 N
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
071 A000400 1864
071 B000400 805
071 C000400 673
071 D000400 120
072 A000400 8
072 B000400 0
072 C000400 8
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 6
072 G000400 0
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 0
072 J000400 0
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 0
072 M000400 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 13
072 N000400 0
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 0
072 R000400 8
072 S000400 0
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 1
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 0
072 X000400 15
072 Y000400 15
072 Z000400 8
072AA000400 78
072BB000400 0
072CC010400 141
072CC020400 0
072DD010400 0
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 0
073 A010400 0.0000
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 349
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 0
074 D000400 0
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 1278
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 0
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 12
074 M000400 4
074 N000400 1643
074 O000400 83
074 P000400 0
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 9
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 0
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 1551
074 U010400 125
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 12.44
074 V020400 0.00
<PAGE>
PAGE 14
074 W000400 0.0000
074 X000400 2
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 800
076 000400 0.00
008 A000501 VAN ECK ASSOCIATES CORPORATION
008 B000501 A
008 C000501 801-21340
008 D010501 NEW YORK
008 D020501 NY
008 D030501 10016
008 A000502 PEREGRINE ASSET MANAGEMENT (HONG KONG) LIMITD
008 B000502 S
008 C000502 801-04630
008 D010502 HONG KONG
008 D050502 HONG KONG
010 A000501 VAN ECK ASSOCIATES
010 C010501 NEW YORK
010 C020501 NY
010 C030501 10016
028 A010500 0
028 A020500 0
028 A030500 0
028 A040500 0
028 B010500 0
028 B020500 0
028 B030500 0
028 B040500 0
028 C010500 0
028 C020500 0
028 C030500 0
028 C040500 0
028 D010500 0
028 D020500 0
028 D030500 0
028 D040500 0
028 E010500 0
028 E020500 0
028 E030500 0
028 E040500 0
028 F010500 50
028 F020500 0
028 F030500 0
028 F040500 0
028 G010500 50
028 G020500 0
028 G030500 0
028 G040500 0
028 H000500 50
029 000500 N
<PAGE>
PAGE 15
030 A000500 0
030 B000500 0.00
030 C000500 0.00
031 A000500 0
031 B000500 0
032 000500 0
033 000500 0
034 000500 N
035 000500 0
036 B000500 0
037 000500 N
038 000500 0
039 000500 N
040 000500 N
041 000500 N
042 A000500 0
042 B000500 0
042 C000500 0
042 D000500 0
042 E000500 0
042 F000500 0
042 G000500 0
042 H000500 0
043 000500 0
044 000500 0
045 000500 Y
048 000500 1.000
048 A010500 0
048 A020500 0.000
048 B010500 0
048 B020500 0.000
048 C010500 0
048 C020500 0.000
048 D010500 0
048 D020500 0.000
048 E010500 0
048 E020500 0.000
048 F010500 0
048 F020500 0.000
048 G010500 0
048 G020500 0.000
048 H010500 0
048 H020500 0.000
048 I010500 0
048 I020500 0.000
048 J010500 0
048 J020500 0.000
048 K010500 0
048 K020500 0.000
049 000500 N
050 000500 N
<PAGE>
PAGE 16
051 000500 N
052 000500 N
053 A000500 N
054 A000500 Y
054 B000500 N
054 C000500 N
054 D000500 N
054 E000500 N
054 F000500 N
054 G000500 Y
054 H000500 Y
054 I000500 N
054 J000500 Y
054 K000500 N
054 L000500 N
054 M000500 Y
054 N000500 N
054 O000500 N
055 A000500 N
055 B000500 N
056 000500 N
057 000500 N
058 A000500 N
061 000500 0
062 A000500 N
062 B000500 0.0
062 C000500 0.0
062 D000500 0.0
062 E000500 0.0
062 F000500 0.0
062 G000500 0.0
062 H000500 0.0
062 I000500 0.0
062 J000500 0.0
062 K000500 0.0
062 L000500 0.0
062 M000500 0.0
062 N000500 0.0
062 O000500 0.0
062 P000500 0.0
062 Q000500 0.0
062 R000500 0.0
066 A000500 Y
066 B000500 N
066 C000500 Y
066 D000500 N
066 E000500 N
066 F000500 N
066 G000500 N
067 000500 N
068 A000500 N
<PAGE>
PAGE 17
068 B000500 Y
069 000500 N
070 A010500 Y
070 A020500 N
070 B010500 Y
070 B020500 N
070 C010500 Y
070 C020500 N
070 D010500 Y
070 D020500 N
070 E010500 Y
070 E020500 N
070 F010500 Y
070 F020500 N
070 G010500 Y
070 G020500 N
070 H010500 Y
070 H020500 N
070 I010500 Y
070 I020500 N
070 J010500 Y
070 J020500 N
070 K010500 Y
070 K020500 N
070 L010500 Y
070 L020500 N
070 M010500 Y
070 M020500 N
070 N010500 Y
070 N020500 N
070 O010500 Y
070 O020500 N
070 P010500 N
070 P020500 N
070 Q010500 N
070 Q020500 N
070 R010500 N
070 R020500 N
071 A000500 590
071 B000500 175
071 C000500 428
071 D000500 41
072 A000500 4
072 B000500 0
072 C000500 4
072 D000500 0
072 E000500 0
072 F000500 2
072 G000500 0
072 H000500 0
072 I000500 0
<PAGE>
PAGE 18
072 J000500 0
072 K000500 0
072 L000500 1
072 M000500 0
072 N000500 0
072 O000500 0
072 P000500 0
072 Q000500 0
072 R000500 7
072 S000500 0
072 T000500 0
072 U000500 1
072 V000500 0
072 W000500 0
072 X000500 11
072 Y000500 11
072 Z000500 4
072AA000500 6
072BB000500 0
072CC010500 37
072CC020500 0
072DD010500 0
072DD020500 0
072EE000500 0
073 A010500 0.0000
073 A020500 0.0000
073 B000500 0.0000
073 C000500 0.0000
074 A000500 75
074 B000500 0
074 C000500 0
074 D000500 0
074 E000500 0
074 F000500 387
074 G000500 0
074 H000500 73
074 I000500 0
074 J000500 3
074 K000500 0
074 L000500 69
074 M000500 3
074 N000500 610
074 O000500 0
074 P000500 0
074 Q000500 0
074 R010500 0
074 R020500 0
074 R030500 0
074 R040500 13
074 S000500 0
074 T000500 597
<PAGE>
PAGE 19
074 U010500 55
074 U020500 0
074 V010500 10.95
074 V020500 0.00
074 W000500 0.0000
074 X000500 2
074 Y000500 0
075 A000500 0
075 B000500 525
076 000500 0.00
072 I003300 0
072 J003300 0
072 K003300 0
072 L003300 0
072 M003300 0
072 N003300 0
072 O003300 0
072 P003300 0
072 Q003300 0
072 R003300 0
072 S003300 0
072 T003300 0
072 U003300 0
072 V003300 0
072 W003300 0
072 X003300 0
SIGNATURE JOSEPH P. DIMAGGIO
TITLE CONTROLLER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000888227
<NAME> Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> Gold & Natural Resources
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> Dec-21-1995
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 137,785,689
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 179,162,315
<RECEIVABLES> 7,781,087
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 186,943,402
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 450,900
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 122,776
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 573,676
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 143,008,774
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 11,013,039
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,632,405
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 351,381
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 41,377,166
<NET-ASSETS> 186,369,726
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,065,619
<INTEREST-INCOME> 552,363
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,495,079
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,122,903
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,076,138
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 28,056,474
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 32,255,515
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,119,954
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 16,491,600
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (15,001,769)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 84,822
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 127,319,689
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (1,589,648)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 492,408
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,251,773
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,498,320
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 139,807
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.12
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.44
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.13)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.92
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.08
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000888227
<NAME> Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> Worldwide Bond
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> May-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 106,466,663
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 105,396,422
<RECEIVABLES> 2,658,765
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 108,285
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 743,894
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 743,894
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 109,519,655
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 9,884,604
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,970,039
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4,242,895)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (706,125)
<NET-ASSETS> 107,540,674
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,952,798
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,182,482
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,770,316
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,766,891
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (6,033,430)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,507,897
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 8,098,367
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 56,024,013
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 64,457,152
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8,098,367
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (334,772)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,667,825
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,376,521)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 985,741
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,206,870
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 109,736,250
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.46
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.34)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.82)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.88
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.08
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000888227
<NAME> Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 03
<NAME> Worldwide Balanced
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> May-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 137,754
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 148,305
<RECEIVABLES> 470,537
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 618,842
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,908
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 10,908
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 596,596
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 59,061
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 787
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 10,551
<NET-ASSETS> 607,934
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 787
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 787
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 10,551
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 11,338
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 64,737
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (7,097)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 593,728
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,400
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 23,559
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 186,789
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000888227
<NAME> Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 04
<NAME> Worldwide Hard Assets
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> Aug-21-1995
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,136,718
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,277,601
<RECEIVABLES> 415,455
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,643,056
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 83,041
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 8,854
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 91,895
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,324,645
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 124,727
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 8,625
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 77,116
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 140,775
<NET-ASSETS> 1,551,161
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 8,039
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8,039
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 77,702
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 140,775
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 226,516
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 125,343
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (616)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,551,161
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5,527
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 20,046
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 800,129
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.11
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.33
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.44
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000888227
<NAME> Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 05
<NAME> Worldwide Emerging Markets
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1996
<PERIOD-START> Dec-21-1995
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 348,003
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 386,927
<RECEIVABLES> 223,361
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 610,288
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13,024
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13,024
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 550,000
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 54,566
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3,453
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 6,373
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 37,458
<NET-ASSETS> 597,264
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3,557
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,557
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 6,249
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 37,458
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 47,264
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 54,566
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 597,264
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,867
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 10,828
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 525,338
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.88
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
