<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> 05
   <NAME> MANAGED
<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>                        2,662,717
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       3,466,578
<RECEIVABLES>                                  142,798
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   2,197
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,611,573
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       304,113
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        5,550
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            309,663
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     2,698,050
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          211,171
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        4,698
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (3,020)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       606,741
<NET-ASSETS>                                 3,301,910
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               27,279
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               74,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  10,967
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         90,312
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       215,053
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      256,886
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          562,251
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (90,312)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     (212,457)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                         (10,444)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         12,059
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (16,174)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             20,147
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         501,783
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            9,826
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 10,967
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         3,025,277
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            14.35
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.46
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.43
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.46)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (1.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            (0.05)
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              15.64
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>