<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000819577 <NAME> AEI REAL ESTATE FUND XVII LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 1,629,693 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 45,224 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,674,917 <PP&E> 14,849,202 <DEPRECIATION> (2,678,665) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 13,845,454 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 287,195 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 13,558,259 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 13,845,454 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 820,649 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 338,042 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 898,889 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 898,889 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 898,889 <EPS-PRIMARY> 39.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 39.57