<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> 02
   <NAME> SOVEREIGN BOND
<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>                          828,705
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         876,466
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,501
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 890,967
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         3,145
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          298
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              3,443
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       910,521
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           93,947
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          178
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (7,924)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        15,251
<NET-ASSETS>                                   887,524
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               32,192
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   1,371
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         30,821
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (7,924)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     (36,094)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         (13,197)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (30,821)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          5,542
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (6,212)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              3,188
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        (19,597)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            1,117
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  1,371
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.92
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .30


</TABLE>