<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                                                                    Exhibit 27



                    JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

                  (Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated  statement of financial position and the consolidated  statement of
income  and  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to  such  financial
statements.


<CIK>                                                    0000107140
<NAME>                                                   John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                             1000

                                                                        
    <PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         12-MOS
    <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                APR-30-2000
    <PERIOD-START>                                                   MAY-01-1999
    <PERIOD-END>                                                     APR-30-2000
     <CASH>                                                              $42,299
     <SECURITIES>                                                              0
     <RECEIVABLES>                                                       121,454
     <ALLOWANCES>                                                         53,374
     <INVENTORY>                                                          46,109
     <CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    177,111
     <PP&E>                                                              106,027
     <DEPRECIATION>                                                       67,801
     <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      569,337
     <CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               254,050
     <BONDS>                                                              95,000
     <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
     <PREFERRED>                                                               0
     <COMMON>                                                             83,191
     <OTHER-SE>                                                           89,547
     <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        569,337
     <SALES>                                                                   0
     <TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    594,815
     <CGS>                                                               194,939
     <TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       505,811
     <OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
     <LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
     <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    8,390
     <INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      82,631
     <INCOME-TAX>                                                         30,243
     <INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  52,388
     <DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
     <EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
     <CHANGES>                                                                 0
     <NET-INCOME>                                                         52,388
     <EPS-BASIC>                                                             .85
     <EPS-DILUTED>                                                           .81