<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDIT-
ED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. & SUBSID-
IARIES AS OF MARCH 31, 1995 & THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF INCOME, STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD THEN
ENDED & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1995
<CASH>                                          10,599
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   41,383
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,216
<INVENTORY>                                      6,363
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                78,490
<PP&E>                                       1,379,260
<DEPRECIATION>                                 394,363
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,692,151
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          284,205
<BONDS>                                        427,022
<COMMON>                                        58,318
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      2,268
<OTHER-SE>                                     728,462
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,692,151
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               142,425
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   94,869
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,396
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 45,695
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,695
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             27,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47