<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WORLDCOM,
INC.'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          59,190
<SECURITIES>                                     6,866
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,303,688
<ALLOWANCES>                                   128,583
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,625,380
<PP&E>                                       6,081,730
<DEPRECIATION>                                 662,909
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              20,813,368
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,870,285
<BONDS>                                      5,348,638
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        125
<COMMON>                                         9,072
<OTHER-SE>                                  13,356,803
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                20,813,368
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             5,348,522
<CGS>                                        2,805,807
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                4,628,875
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,794
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                76,246
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             234,949
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                501,492
<INCOME-TAX>                                   260,776
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            240,716
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   220,889
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.25
<FN>
</FN>