<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> 15
   <NAME> SMALL CAP VALUE
<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>                           66,847
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          74,253
<RECEIVABLES>                                    8,691
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  82,944
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        12,613
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           15
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             12,628
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        65,217
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            5,814
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           48
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          1,702
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         3,349
<NET-ASSETS>                                    70,316
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                  385
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   42
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                     308
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            119
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         1,702
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        1,072
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            2,893
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        (119)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          1,152
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (879)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 11
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                            6221
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              247
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                    308
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.59
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .50
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .99


</TABLE>