<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> 17
   <NAME> EQUITY INDEX
<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>                          187,090
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         233,336
<RECEIVABLES>                                      893
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      68
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 234,297
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         1,719
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              1,719
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       186,595
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           13,139
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           85
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          (356)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        45,998
<NET-ASSETS>                                   232,578
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,556
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   11
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,567
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         3,458
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       34,583
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           40,608
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (2,483)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (3,661)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          7,345
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,703)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                363
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         131,188
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              271
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    543
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           161,057
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            14.21
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.76
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.28)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              17.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>