<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TEMPLETON DRAGON
FUND, INC. JUNE 30, 2000 SEMIANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000919893
<NAME> TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 548520222
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 586740994
<RECEIVABLES> 705303
<ASSETS-OTHER> 8332735
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 595779032
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 7321942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1619513
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8941455
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 675251029
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 51196393
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 52859893
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (26185268)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (100448956)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 38220772
<NET-ASSETS> 586837577
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 6927887
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3137637
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (4874544)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5190980
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 60179543
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (107134338)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (41763815)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5190980)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (26172439)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1663500)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (87031122)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (12829)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (160628499)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (3968767)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (4874544)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 638161640
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.10<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.70)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.50)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.56<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE WEIGHTED SHARES OUTSTANDING
<F2>ANNUALIZED
</FN>
</TABLE>
