<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
   
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         13,675
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  63,994
<ALLOWANCES>                                   3,635
<INVENTORY>                                    8,022
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               107,620
<PP&E>                                         1,744,739
<DEPRECIATION>                                 575,948
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,069,847
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          157,724
<BONDS>                                        614,659
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    10,041
<COMMON>                                       60,082
<OTHER-SE>                                     991,931
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,069,847
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               198,985
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  141,287
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,310
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                52,838
<INCOME-TAX>                                   19,703
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            33,135
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   33,135
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .55
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .55