<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> 04
   <NAME> GROWTH & INCOME
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-01-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        2,538,433
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       3,672,104
<RECEIVABLES>                                    4,023
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,676,127
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         4,856
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          486
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              5,342
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     2,550,367
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          188,319
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        1,482
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          (362)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     1,119,298
<NET-ASSETS>                                 3,670,785
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               46,457
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                1,695
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   8,747
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         39,405
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       320,993
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      486,604
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          847,002
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (39,405)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     (320,993)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         14,254
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (12,305)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             18,579
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         884,821
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            7,960
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  8,747
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         3,184,087
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            16.61
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           4.75
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.87)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              19.49
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.27
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>