<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000795196
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                       2,561,244
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   90,816
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
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<PP&E>                                      23,540,809
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,787,156
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          414,303
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
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<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  21,351,576
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                21,765,879
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,963,314
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  856,039
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               802,372
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               668,520
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                636,383
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            636,383
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   636,383
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     8.41
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