<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JOHN
HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I ANNUAL REPORT DATED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 11
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL BALANCED
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           25,786
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          29,275
<RECEIVABLES>                                      870
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     319
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  30,464
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                            43
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            5
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 48
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        27,679
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            2,734
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        (829)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            237
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         2,791
<NET-ASSETS>                                    30,416
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  333
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  859
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     305
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            887
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           609
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        3,072
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            4,568
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (887)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (1,103)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                             (24)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            581
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (545)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                184
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           4,996
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              236
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    504
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            27,707
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.11
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.44
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.34)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.12
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.10
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>