
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the balance
sheet of Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc. at December 31, 1997, and its
statement of earnings for the year then ended and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Form 10-K of Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1997.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                       2,160,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  527,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                     413,274,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              12,297,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             537,014,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       280,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 361,864,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               537,014,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            50,135,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                9,025,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,478,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             30,385,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         30,385,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                30,385,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.25
<FN>
<F1>Due to the nature of its industry, Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc. has an
unclassified balance sheet, therefore, no values are shown above for current
assets and current liabilities.
</FN>
        




</TABLE>
