<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> 16
   <NAME> INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
<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>                           59,028
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          66,873
<RECEIVABLES>                                      311
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   1,197
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  68,381
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           152
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           53
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                203
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        59,644
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            5,407
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           52
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          2,267
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         6,213
<NET-ASSETS>                                    68,176
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  777
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   64
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     351
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            490
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         2,267
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        (242)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            2,515
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (490)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,429
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,322)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 39
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           3,926
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              286
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    378
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.21
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .09
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .40
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.09)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.61
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.06


</TABLE>