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

<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000

                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                       SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                             71,645
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      267,847
<ALLOWANCES>                                       9,256
<INVENTORY>                                        30,040
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   370,979
<PP&E>                                             5,766,936
<DEPRECIATION>                                     2,875,149
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     6,310,882
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              665,785
<BONDS>                                            3,129,988
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        7,975
<COMMON>                                           140,642
<OTHER-SE>                                         1,834,835
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       6,310,882
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   1,318,746
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      935,373
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 120,213
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    297,631
<INCOME-TAX>                                       123,278
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                174,353
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                       174,353
<EPS-BASIC>                                        1.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.23