<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW 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-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      521,821
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    240,674
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         162,232
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        61,002
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  70,750
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,056,479
<COMMON>                                        94,828
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       64,305
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            178,184
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 337,317
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,900
<PREFERRED>                                     15,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           325,552
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 600
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   16,987
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          100
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 359,023
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,056,479
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      464,246
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,057
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     373,670
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     396,727
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         67,519
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,789
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  72,308
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,675
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,633
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        792
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   40,841
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        30,707
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       30,675
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         124,907
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0