<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 JUNE 30, 1998 AND THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN 
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                  JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                        16,966
<SECURITIES>                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                 124,970
<ALLOWANCES>                  8,287
<INVENTORY>                   23,278
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              236,226
<PP&E>                        3,954,829
<DEPRECIATION>                1,718,679
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                4,655,607
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         279,346
<BONDS>                       2,451,779
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   8,106
<COMMON>                      91,800
<OTHER-SE>                    1,316,353
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  4,655,607
<SALES>                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              760,098
<CGS>                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 528,478
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            84,881
<INCOME-PRETAX>               207,191
<INCOME-TAX>                  85,306
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           121,885
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  121,885
<EPS-PRIMARY>                 1.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                 1.31