<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000808490
<NAME> VARIABLE INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 6
   <NAME> U.S. GOVERNMENT BOND 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>                        11497173
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                11701405
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        83350
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      10992844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1105453
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          1486380
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         2331
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         104173
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         756605
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          2278460
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        352027
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         252791
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (744322)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             110604
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (2825874)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (167457)
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 193606
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            9.718
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.765
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                           (0.810)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>