<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ABBOTT
LABORATORIES' 1999 SECOND QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                         345,781
<SECURITIES>                                    55,969
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,099,526
<ALLOWANCES>                                   190,148
<INVENTORY>                                  1,422,758
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,547,186
<PP&E>                                       9,499,590
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,799,702
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              13,145,098
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,170,418
<BONDS>                                      1,337,566
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     1,468,693
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,970,578
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                13,145,098
<SALES>                                      6,542,197
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,542,197
<CGS>                                        2,859,773
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,859,773
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               582,121<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                13,402
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              76,840
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,818,374
<INCOME-TAX>                                   509,145
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,309,229
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,309,229
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.85
<FN>
<F1>OTHER EXPENSES CONSIST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.
</FN>