<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. unaudited financial statements at September 30, 1999 and for the nine 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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 3,361 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 190,060 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 359,651 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 588,153 <PP&E> 4,938,937 <DEPRECIATION> 1,551,788 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,132,187 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 586,337 <BONDS> 2,095,185 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 487,507 <PREFERRED> 349,990 <COMMON> 21,854 <OTHER-SE> (212,401) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,132,187 <SALES> 1,359,829 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,359,829 <CGS> 875,724 <TOTAL-COSTS> 875,724 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,590 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 146,127 <INCOME-PRETAX> 259,800 <INCOME-TAX> 135,623 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 89,625 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 89,625 <EPS-BASIC> .39 <EPS-DILUTED> .39