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

 

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

   <NUMBER> 8
   <NAME> LAZARD EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOILIO

                                                  
<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>                   387,839,695             387,839,695
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       39,210,393                 972,503
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       43,466,805                 977,024
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      589,181                 589,181
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0                       0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                    34,383,152              34,383,152
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    39,348,641              39,348,641
<NET-ASSETS>                               393,394,365             393,394,365
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            3,111,398               3,111,398
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              565,052                 565,052
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               2,561,486               2,561,486
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,114,964               1,114,964
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    20,263,961              20,263,961
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                 (54,618,482)            (54,618,482)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                     (33,239,557)            (33,239,557)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0                       0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     18,740,441                 110,775
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                 22,996,853                 115,296
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0                       0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                    (82,374,664)            (82,374,664)
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,588,249               2,588,249
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       394,415,842              10,014,133
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.70                   10.74
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.03                    0.01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.94)                  (0.95)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.00                    0.00
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.79                    9.80
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.27                    1.60
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0                       0
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