<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. financial statements at December 31, 1998 and for the 12 months then ended, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000831259 <NAME> FREEPORT-MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 5,877 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 180,978 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 301,404 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 545,894 <PP&E> 4,813,826 <DEPRECIATION> 1,339,375 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,192,634 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 518,487 <BONDS> 2,328,989 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 500,007 <PREFERRED> 349,990 <COMMON> 21,852 <OTHER-SE> (268,426) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,192,634 <SALES> 1,757,132 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,757,132 <CGS> 1,082,038 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,082,038 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,033 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 205,588 <INCOME-PRETAX> 361,426 <INCOME-TAX> 170,566 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 153,848 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 153,848 <EPS-PRIMARY> .67 <EPS-DILUTED> .67