<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS TWELVE MONTH YEAR-TO-DATE FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM ABBOTT LABORATORIES' 1998 FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-K FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         308,230
<SECURITIES>                                    75,087
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,141,010
<ALLOWANCES>                                   190,952
<INVENTORY>                                  1,410,609
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,553,136
<PP&E>                                       9,396,236
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,657,393
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              13,216,213
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,962,126
<BONDS>                                      1,339,694
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     1,231,079
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,482,582
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                13,216,213
<SALES>                                     12,477,845
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            12,477,845
<CGS>                                        5,394,441
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                5,394,441
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,221,593<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                41,441
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             159,839
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,240,599
<INCOME-TAX>                                   907,368
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,333,231
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,333,231
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.53<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.51<F2>
<FN>
<F1> Other expenses consist of research and development expenses.
<F2> The EPS information in this exhibit has been prepared in accordance with 
     SFAS No. 128, and Basic and Diluted EPS have been entered in place of 
     Primary and Fully Diluted EPS, respectively.
</FN>