<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JOHN
HANC0CK 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> 18
   <NAME> STRATEGIC BOND
<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>                           60,144
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          71,782
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,853
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  77,635
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        10,824
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           20
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             10,844
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        64,192
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            6,301
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        (147)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            (1)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         2,593
<NET-ASSETS>                                    66,791
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                2,902
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     446
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,456
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         (559)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        2,193
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            4,090
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (1,387)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                         (534)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                            (891)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          4,340
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,102)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                266
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          38,144
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              329
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    477
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            46,643
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.24
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.54
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.38
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.29)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            (0.18)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.60
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>