<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000931755 <NAME> AEI INCOME & GROWTH FUND XXI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 2,328,791 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 72,704 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,401,495 <PP&E> 17,049,956 <DEPRECIATION> (470,623) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 18,980,828 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 588,815 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 18,392,013 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 18,980,828 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 452,487 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 193,513 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 428,911 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 428,911 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 428,911 <EPS-PRIMARY> 17.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 17.82