<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL 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> 04
   <NAME> GROWTH AND INCOME
<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>                        2,429,399
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       3,415,364
<RECEIVABLES>                                   76,766
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,492,130
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       116,321
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          542
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            116,863
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     2,218,039
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          171,341
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        1,120
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        240,153
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       915,955
<NET-ASSETS>                                 3,375,267
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               22,884
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  939
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   4,402
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         19,421
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       240,153
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      283,261
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          542,835
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (19,421)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          7,552
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (5,025)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              1,041
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         589,303
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            3,863
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  4,402
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            16.61
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.11
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.09
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.11)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              19.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.28
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>