<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000923184
<NAME> MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL FUNDS

   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> MATTHEWS PACIFIC TIGER FUND CLASS I
<MULTIPLIER> 1

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       95,075,550
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     112,938,663
<RECEIVABLES>                                  573,496
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   4,668
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           149,327
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             113,666,154
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      493,619
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            493,619
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    84,076,515
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        9,029,279
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       10,564,114
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      998,574
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     10,243,705
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    17,863,741
<NET-ASSETS>                               113,172,535
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            3,881,568
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             (75,514)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 226,710
<EXPENSES-NET>                               2,108,269
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      1,924,495
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    20,346,121
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (1,074,283)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       21,196,333
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    2,508,804
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      6,708,677
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  8,441,468
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            197,956
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       2,015,608
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      1,634,802
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 (10,127,308)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,169,262
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,192,449
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       114,982,593
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.41
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.20
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.27
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.81