<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 JUNE 30, 1995 & THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF INCOME, STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY & CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD THEN
ENDED & IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<CASH>                                           6,150
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   45,873
<ALLOWANCES>                                     2,371
<INVENTORY>                                      5,972
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                81,411
<PP&E>                                       1,416,246
<DEPRECIATION>                                 411,997
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,718,685
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          316,231
<BONDS>                                        393,994
<COMMON>                                        58,368
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      2,268
<OTHER-SE>                                     751,902
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,718,685
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               292,159
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  195,791
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              21,847
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 87,662
<INCOME-TAX>                                    34,495
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             53,167
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    53,167
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.92