<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF
INCOME  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO  SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                           0000107140
<NAME>                             John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                          1000
       
                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-30-1998
<CASH>                                            $127,405
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       97,723
<ALLOWANCES>                                        41,576
<INVENTORY>                                         44,912
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   237,610
<PP&E>                                              83,155
<DEPRECIATION>                                      48,845
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     506,914
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              178,353
<BONDS>                                            125,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                            20,744
<OTHER-SE>                                         140,007
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       506,914
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   467,081
<CGS>                                              164,169
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      426,217
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   7,933
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     58,086
<INCOME-TAX>                                        21,498
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 36,588
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        36,588
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         2.22