<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> 16
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
<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>                           54,893
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          64,211
<RECEIVABLES>                                       78
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      37
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  64,326
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             2
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           74
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 76
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        58,135
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            5,260
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           52
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          (392)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         6,453
<NET-ASSETS>                                    64,250
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  854
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  144
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     563
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            435
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         (303)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        6,191
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            6,323
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (416)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          3,600
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,258)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 36
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          33,619
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              441
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    708
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            48,655
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.63
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.11
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.57
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.16
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>