<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000795196 <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK REALTY INCOME FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,903,260 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 4,903,260 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,903,260 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 721,825 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 4,181,435 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,903,260 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,404,075 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 677,445 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,726,630 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,726,630 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,726,630 <EPS-BASIC> 16.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 16.68