<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JOHN
HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I SEMIANNUAL REPORT DATED JUNE 30, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 04
   <NAME> GROWTH AND INCOME
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        2,811,549
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       4,120,168
<RECEIVABLES>                                  266,654
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,386,822
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       263,074
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          543
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            263,617
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     2,598,037
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          190,619
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        1,482
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        235,417
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     1,288,269
<NET-ASSETS>                                 4,123,205
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               23,572
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  890
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   5,587
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         18,875
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       235,417
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      168,971
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          423,263
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (18,875)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          8,675
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (7,304)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                929
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         452,420
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            4,755
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  5,587
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            19.49
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .10
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.10)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              21.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .29


</TABLE>