<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> 11
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL BALANCED
<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>                           26,555
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          27,983
<RECEIVABLES>                                      405
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   1,015
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  29,403
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                            58
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          275
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                336
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        28,197
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            2,760
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        (829)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          1,387
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                           312
<NET-ASSETS>                                    29,067
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  199
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  375
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     154
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            420
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         1,387
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (3,017)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (1,210)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (420)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            337
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (350)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 39
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         (1,349)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              125
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    209
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.12
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.59)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.15)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.53
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.04


</TABLE>