<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> 20
   <NAME> GLOBAL EQUITY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   8-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           14,174
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          15,264
<RECEIVABLES>                                       24
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       1
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  15,289
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             4
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            4
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  8
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        15,474
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            1,548
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          (3)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          (366)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                           176
<NET-ASSETS>                                    15,281
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  163
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   54
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     111
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            106
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         (376)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                          176
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             (94)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         (99)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                              (7)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,800
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (263)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 11
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          15,281
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               87
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    237
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            14,410
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.13)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.15
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>