<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TEMPLETON
RUSSIA FUND, INC. SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000930828
<NAME> TEMPLETON RUSSIA FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 69832761
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 80881295
<RECEIVABLES> 331143
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 81212438
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 106617
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 229943
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 336560
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 76545667
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5418175
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5418175
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (244524)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (6473799)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 11048534
<NET-ASSETS> 80875878
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 347449
<INTEREST-INCOME> 424397
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (937308)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (165462)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 8602710
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (38426247)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (29988999)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (109447)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (30098446)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 30385
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (15076509)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (562848)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (937308)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 90055731
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.48
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.03)<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (5.50)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.08<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE WEIGHTED SHARES OUTSTANDING.
<F2>ANNUALIZED.
</FN>
</TABLE>
