<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TEMPLETON
RUSSIA FUND, INC. MARCH 31, 2000 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> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59149251
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 108623655
<RECEIVABLES> 6447099
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 115070754
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3003677
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1092753
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4096430
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 76545667
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5418175
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5408819
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 30385
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (15076509)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 49474781
<NET-ASSETS> 110974324
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 172596
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2115396
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1488999)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 798993
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (13441262)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 73574917
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 60932648
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2039517)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 9356
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 59034024
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1354345
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1718683)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (861635)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1488999)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 68930866
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.60
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.15<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 11.11<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.38)<F1>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.16
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE WEIGHTED SHARES OUTSTANDING.
</FN>
</TABLE>
