<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 7
   <NAME> WORLD EQUITY PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        18055025
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1315970
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           978505
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                 (24340)
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      2149737
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          3385712
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       1008027
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         659927
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (395278)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              72816
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         6691054
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        64648
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                        (69065)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           11.752
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.014
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.20
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>