<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE
SERIES TRUST I AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000785303
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 06
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          168,023
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         177,332
<RECEIVABLES>                                    2,175
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     124
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 179,631
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           351
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        1,222
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              1,573
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       150,114
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           10,027
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         22,011
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         5,233
<NET-ASSETS>                                   178,058
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,282
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  220
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     562
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,940
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        22,011
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        2,026
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           25,985
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (1,474)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            776
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (805)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 84
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          25,699
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              366
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    562
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.20
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.47
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.15)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              17.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.43
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>