CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



HARRY J. LISTER,  Vice Chairman and PEO, and Howard L.  Kitzmiller,  Senior Vice
President,  Secretary and Treasurer of Washington  Mutual  Investors  Fund, Inc.
(the "Registrant"), each certify to the best of his or her knowledge that:

1) The Registrant's periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended October
31, 2003 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2) The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.


Chief Executive Officer             Chief Financial Officer

WASHINGTON MUTUAL                   WASHINGTON MUTUAL
INVESTORS FUND, INC.                INVESTORS FUND, INC.

Harry J. Lister, Vice Chairman      Howard L. Kitzmiller, Senior Vice President,
                                    Secretary and Treasurer


Date:  January 6, 2004                       Date: January 6, 2004


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to WASHINGTON MUTUAL INVESTORS
FUND, INC. and will be retained by WASHINGTON MUTUAL INVESTORS FUND, INC. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or its
staff upon request.

This certification is being furnished to the Commission solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.