<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> 21
   <NAME> BOND INDEX
<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>                           32,652
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          31,433
<RECEIVABLES>                                      545
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  31,978
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           19
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 19
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        33,215
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            3,321
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              4
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       (1,260)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    31,959
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 1000
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                      51
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            949
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                             4
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (1,718)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            (765)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (949)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            582
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (105)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 96
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           3,958
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               22
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                     70
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.19
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.57)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.31)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.62
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .34


</TABLE>