<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-02-1999 <PERIOD-END> JAN-02-1999 <CASH> 553,825 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 431,156 <ALLOWANCES> 23,726 <INVENTORY> 276,589 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,333,584 <PP&E> 344,368 <DEPRECIATION> 124,137 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,565,774 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 587,629 <BONDS> 599,643 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,288 <OTHER-SE> 932,719 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,565,774 <SALES> 1,659,981 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,659,981 <CGS> 889,575 <TOTAL-COSTS> 889,575 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 137,126 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,169 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 45,458 <INCOME-PRETAX> 193,916 <INCOME-TAX> 74,674 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 103,565 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 519 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 104,084 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.86 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.79