<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> 13
   <NAME> LARGE CAP VALUE
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          106,130
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         123,254
<RECEIVABLES>                                      270
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       1
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 123,525
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           151
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            9
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                160
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       111,673
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            8,799
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           35
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            (8)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        11,665
<NET-ASSETS>                                   123,365
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,592
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  399
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     920
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,071
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         4,295
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        2,592
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            8,958
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (2,052)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (4,289)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                             (21)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                           3809
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (864)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                455
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          50,096
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              747
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    920
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            99,497
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.57
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.96
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.51)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              14.02
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.92
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>