<ARTICLE>                        5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURYTEL,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE
SIX MONTH  PERIOD THEN ENDED AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000

                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                         49,685
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 212,865
<ALLOWANCES>                                    5,132
<INVENTORY>                                    24,699
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              292,601
<PP&E>                                      4,318,707
<DEPRECIATION>                              2,082,816
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              4,721,867
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         336,712
<BONDS>                                     1,953,844
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                     7,975
<COMMON>                                      140,540
<OTHER-SE>                                  1,799,036
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                4,721,867
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              836,112
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 599,798
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             71,309
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               184,381
<INCOME-TAX>                                   77,252
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           107,129
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  107,129
<EPS-BASIC>                                       .76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .76