<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JOHN HANCOCK
VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000785303
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE SERIES TRUST I
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 07
   <NAME> REAL ESTATE EQUITY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          161,849
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         187,690
<RECEIVABLES>                                    1,380
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 189,070
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           88
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 88
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       158,994
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           12,979
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        1,155
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          4,546
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        24,287
<NET-ASSETS>                                   188,982
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                5,401
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                  120
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     691
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          4,830
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         4,546
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     (21,957)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         (12,581)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (4,830)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,000
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    (1,174)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                323
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        (15,149)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              580
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    691
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.91
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.37
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (1.35)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.37)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              14.56
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>