<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, 1997 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         259,688
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  133,502
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               393,190
<PP&E>                                         9,791,171
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (8,559,288)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,632,237
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          54,029
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,539,804
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,632,237
<SALES>                                        578,280
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               588,934
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  395,479<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                96,037
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            96,037
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   96,037
<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>