<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000795196
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                       2,466,306
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  225,816
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,692,122
<PP&E>                                      23,540,809
<DEPRECIATION>                               5,102,522
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,515,092
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          599,942
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                  20,915,150
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                21,515,092
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,323,079
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  391,554
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               360,760
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                570,765
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            570,765
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   570,765
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     6.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     6.32