<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000804127 <NAME> AEI REAL ESTATE FUND XVI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 723,169 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 24,679 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 747,848 <PP&E> 11,003,862 <DEPRECIATION> (2,215,966) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,535,744 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 267,565 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 9,051,751 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 9,535,744 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 255,291 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 131,765 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 123,526 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 123,526 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 123,526 <EPS-PRIMARY> 8.74 <EPS-DILUTED> 8.74