<ARTICLE>                           5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURYTEL,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
JUNE 30, 1999 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                        JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                              93,893
<SECURITIES>                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                       197,602
<ALLOWANCES>                        3,535
<INVENTORY>                         20,624
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    316,034
<PP&E>                              3,979,280
<DEPRECIATION>                      1,797,761
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      4,558,713
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               430,160
<BONDS>                             2,017,472
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>               0
<PREFERRED>                         8,106
<COMMON>                            139,363
<OTHER-SE>                          1,501,682
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        4,558,713
<SALES>                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    831,006
<CGS>                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       569,758
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  79,728
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     231,105
<INCOME-TAX>                        116,538
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 114,567
<DISCONTINUED>                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                     0
<CHANGES>                           0
<NET-INCOME>                        114,567
<EPS-BASIC>                       .83     <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                       .81     <F1>
<FN>
<F1>           REFLECTS MARCH 1999 STOCK SPLIT. FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULES FOR
               PRIOR PERIODS HAVE NOT BEEN RESTATED TO REFLECT SUCH STOCK SPLIT.
</FN>