<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> 19
   <NAME> EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   8-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                            8,319
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           7,296
<RECEIVABLES>                                       15
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   7,311
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            1
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  1
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        10,255
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            1,032
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          (9)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (1,624)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       (1,312)
<NET-ASSETS>                                     7,310
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                   84
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   24
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                      81
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             27
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (1,644)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (1,312)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (2,929)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         (16)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                             (11)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,271
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (243)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  4
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           7,310
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               68
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    192
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             7,783
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (2.91)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               7.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.55
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>