Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-04197, 333-36726, 333-69377, 333-69393, 333-69611, 333-73241, 333-89699 and 333-89703) of DST Systems, Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2001 relating to the financial statements, which appears in this Form 10-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Kansas City, Missouri March 15, 2001