<ARTICLE>                                          5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE, SUBMITTED AS EXHIBIT 27.1 TO FORM 10-Q, CONTAINS SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
AND STATEMENT OF INCOME OF DST SYSTEMS, INC., COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-14036,
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                              0000714603
<NAME>                                             DST SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                     1000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                              JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                                         24,971
<SECURITIES>                                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 187,226
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              255,665
<PP&E>                                                        599,714
<DEPRECIATION>                                                369,761
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              1,632,098
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         126,058
<BONDS>                                                       103,572
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                          500
<OTHER-SE>                                                  1,026,728
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                1,632,098
<SALES>                                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              371,715
<CGS>                                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 312,442
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              4,258
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                56,638
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   20,658
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            36,122
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                   36,122
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.72