WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

 

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000874964
<NAME> THE LAZARD FUNDS, INC.

   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> LAZARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000             JUN-30-2000
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 2,663,931,868           2,663,931,868
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                      22,676,830              22,676,830
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0                       0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   454,311,050             454,311,050
<NET-ASSETS>                             3,415,883,219           3,415,883,219
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           37,867,120              37,867,120
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              15,554,344              15,554,344
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     25,351,610              25,351,610
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   252,895,729             252,895,729
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                (442,312,288)           (442,312,288)
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<EQUALIZATION>                                       0                       0
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<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0                       0
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<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0                       0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             15,554,533              15,554,533
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            17.29                   17.28
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.12                    0.10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.90)                  (0.92)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.00                    0.00
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              16.51                   16.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.88                    1.15
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0                       0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0                       0