<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> 06
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX
<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>                          162,862
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         172,782
<RECEIVABLES>                                      406
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       8
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 173,196
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           59
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 59
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       165,702
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           11,127
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        (173)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            108
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         7,518
<NET-ASSETS>                                   173,137
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                2,984
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  283
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     908
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          2,359
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        24,001
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        4,290
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           30,650
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (2,321)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      (24,366)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,470
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (2,070)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              1,703
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          20,778
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              504
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  1,032
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           163,862
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.20
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.91
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (2.55)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              15.56
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.56
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>