<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000067716
<NAME> MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      518,524
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    772,780
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         351,696
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       123,303
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,766,303
<COMMON>                                        57,038
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      368,926
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            243,569
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 669,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,500
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           563,545
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,693
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  13,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    4,328
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 497,604
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,766,303
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,279,809
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            49,310
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,120,058
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,169,368
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        110,441
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,645
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 120,086
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        36,006
<NET-INCOME>                                    84,080
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        772
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   83,308
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        45,322
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,731
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         154,873
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.52