<ARTICLE>                             5
<LEGEND>

This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from Century
Properties  Fund XXIII 1999 Fourth Quarter 10-K and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such 10-K filing.

</LEGEND>

<CIK>                                 0000764543
<NAME>                                Century Properties Fund XXIII
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000


                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                        2,079
<SECURITIES>                                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   560
<ALLOWANCES>                                      0
<INVENTORY>                                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                       46,937
<DEPRECIATION>                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               55,321
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                      73,166
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                        0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 75,830
<SALES>                                           0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             10,543
<CGS>                                             0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             13,499
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            5,380
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   0
<INCOME-TAX>                                      0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               0
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (3,004)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (32.00)<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0
<FN>

<F1> Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet. <F2> Multiplier is 1.

</FN>