<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> 05
   <NAME> MANAGED
<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>                        2,819,394
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       3,730,543
<RECEIVABLES>                                   66,214
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,800,921
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       349,485
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       13,545
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            363,030
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     2,689,026
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          210,750
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        4,698
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        168,511
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       575,656
<NET-ASSETS>                                 3,437,891
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               12,942
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               38,412
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   6,101
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         45,253
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       168,511
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     (26,256)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          187,238
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (45,253)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         10,809
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (14,086)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              2,856
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         135,981
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            5,324
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  6,101
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.64
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .67
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.21)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              16.31
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .37


</TABLE>