<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>