<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BEL FUSE
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE TWELVE
MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STASTEMENTS.

</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>        1

       
                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      23,498,491
<SECURITIES>                                 2,981,020
<RECEIVABLES>                                9,061,440
<ALLOWANCES>                                   195,000
<INVENTORY>                                  8,411,540
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            44,337,503
<PP&E>                                      48,136,924
<DEPRECIATION>                              21,815,910
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              71,614,008
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        7,464,911
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       507,082
<OTHER-SE>                                  62,892,015
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                71,614,008
<SALES>                                     65,457,521
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            65,457,521
<CGS>                                       46,539,465
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               58,033,334
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              9,730,530
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,925,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 7,805,530
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0