<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from John Hancock
financial Services, Inc.'s consolidted balance sheets, statements of income,
changes in shareholders' equity and comprehensive income and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2000
of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            14,821
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           11,496
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             11,019
<EQUITIES>                                       1,466
<MORTGAGE>                                       8,974
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      543
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  39,627
<CASH>                                           2,601
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1,858
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           2,367
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  86,402
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 22,270
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                530
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     285
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           14,159
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    825
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             3
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,358
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    86,402
<PREMIUMS>                                       1,261
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,661
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  81
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     861
<BENEFITS>                                       2,208
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         94
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               822
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    647
<INCOME-TAX>                                       213
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                434
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     10
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       424
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.35 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.34 <F1>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1> Basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) represents EPS for the period
February 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000, and is expressed in dollars and cents.
</FN>



</TABLE>