<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. unaudited financial statements at June 30, 1998 and for the six months then ended, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 5,223 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 147,901 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 289,032 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 469,197 <PP&E> 4,774,310 <DEPRECIATION> 1,208,576 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,218,157 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 418,636 <BONDS> 2,426,488 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 500,007 <PREFERRED> 349,990 <COMMON> 21,852 <OTHER-SE> (124,615) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,218,157 <SALES> 829,990 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 829,990 <CGS> 519,026 <TOTAL-COSTS> 519,026 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,566 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 101,842 <INCOME-PRETAX> 160,812 <INCOME-TAX> 75,882 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 70,365 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 70,365 <EPS-PRIMARY> .29 <EPS-DILUTED> .29