<ARTICLE>                             5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from NATIONAL
PROPERTY  INVESTORS 5 2000 Third Quarter 10-QSB and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such 10-QSB filing.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                 0000355637
<NAME>                                NATIONAL PROPERTY INVESTORS 5
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1,000

                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                          SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                                      549
<SECURITIES>                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               374
<ALLOWANCES>                                                  0
<INVENTORY>                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              0 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                   30,850
<DEPRECIATION>                                          (23,950)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            8,136
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         0 <F1>
<BONDS>                                                  12,239
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                      0
<OTHER-SE>                                               (5,048)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                              8,136
<SALES>                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                          3,803
<CGS>                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             3,224
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          831
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                               0
<INCOME-TAX>                                                  0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                           0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                               (252)
<EPS-BASIC>                                               (2.96)<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0
<FN>
<F1> Registrant has an unclassified balance sheet.
<F2> Multiplier is 1.
</FN>