<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Swift Energy
Income Partners 1988-A, Ltd.'s balance sheet and statement of operations con-
tained in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         1,993
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  169,919
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               171,912
<PP&E>                                         10,166,768
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (8,370,458)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,977,585
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          256,404
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,685,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,977,585
<SALES>                                        790,957
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               797,491
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  561,961<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                106,525
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            106,525
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   106,525
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0
<FN>
<F1>Includes lease operating expenses, production taxes and depreciation, 
depletion and amortization expense.  Excludes general and administrative and 
interest expense.
</FN>