<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JOHN
HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST SEMIANNUAL REPORT DATED JUNE 30, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 18
   <NAME> GLOBAL BOND
<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>                           70,688
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          82,164
<RECEIVABLES>                                    3,036
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   5,760
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  90,960
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        18,135
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           43
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             18,178
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        73,377
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            7,182
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        (147)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            665
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       (1,113)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    72,782
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                2,035
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     309
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,726
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           665
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (3,860)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (1,469)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (1,726)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,981
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,266)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                166
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           5,991
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              240
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    309
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.60
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.13
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .88


</TABLE>