<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JOHN HANCOCK
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. CONSOLIDATED 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 THREE-MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
2000 OF JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            15,474
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           11,452
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             11,099
<EQUITIES>                                       1,365
<MORTGAGE>                                       8,683
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      545
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  39,300
<CASH>                                           1,856
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1,841
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           2,255
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  85,009
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 21,846
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                448
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     310
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           13,702
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    969
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             3
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    85,009
<PREMIUMS>                                         532
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                849
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  18
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     466
<BENEFITS>                                       1,018
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         44
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               426
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    310
<INCOME-TAX>                                       105
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                205
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     14
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       192
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .47<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .47<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 MARCH 31, 2000, AND IS EXPRESSED IN CENTS.
</FN>


</TABLE>