<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TEMPLETON DRAGON
FUND, INC. JUNE 30, 2000 SEMIANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<CIK> 0000919893
<NAME> TEMPLETON DRAGON FUND, INC.

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        548520222
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       586740994
<RECEIVABLES>                                   705303
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 8332735
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               595779032
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7321942
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      1619513
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            8941455
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     675251029
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         51196393
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         52859893
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                       (26185268)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                    (100448956)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      38220772
<NET-ASSETS>                                 586837577
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              6927887
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              3137637
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                (4874544)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        5190980
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      60179543
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (107134338)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        (41763815)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (5190980)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                    (26172439)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (1663500)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (87031122)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                         (12829)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                  (160628499)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                         (3968767)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               (4874544)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         638161640
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.75
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.70)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.50)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.46
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.56

<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE WEIGHTED SHARES OUTSTANDING
<F2>ANNUALIZED