<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                                     7
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated  financial  statements of MMI Companies,  Inc. and subsidiaries for
the twelve  month  period  ended  December  31,  1997,  and is  qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                                      <C>                 <C>                   <C>   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-MOS              12-MOS                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1997          DEC-31-1996          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1997          JAN-01-1996          JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                             DEC-31-1997          DEC-31-1996          DEC-31-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       1,135,702            1,130,597            1,100,441
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                              0                    0                    0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                0                    0                    0
<EQUITIES>                                    42,879               22,264                4,029
<MORTGAGE>                                         0                    0                    0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      0                    0                    0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             1,230,800            1,212,556            1,166,825
<CASH>                                         6,698                4,839               14,252
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                            25,962               33,617               33,037
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                        26,539               23,123               16,893
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             1,844,067            1,804,421            1,741,758
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            1,133,869            1,158,496            1,208,852
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                          134,188              106,475               96,281
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     0                    0                    0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              0                    0                    0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                              118,724               93,000               89,000
<COMMON>                                       1,886                1,868                1,666
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0                    0                    0
<PREFERRED>                                        0                    0                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                   397,116              353,298              270,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               1,884,067            1,804,421            1,741,758
<PREMIUMS>                                   278,237              281,391              272,903
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           75,490               73,681               62,936
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             2,182                (890)                1,692
<OTHER-INCOME>                                51,626               34,535               22,336
<BENEFITS>                                   199,761              208,776              206,308
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                   49,049               41,835               39,403
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         107,920               76,574               61,054
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               44,316               55,449               42,213
<INCOME-TAX>                                   9,249               10,229                8,082
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           35,067               45,220               34,131
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0               (5,100)                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (707)                   0               (4,737)
<CHANGES>                                          0                    0                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                  34,360               40,120               29,394
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   1.83                 2.31                 2.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   1.77                 2.22                 2.19
<RESERVE-OPEN>                               900,427              918,497              701,206
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                          209,367              213,419              204,076
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                            (13,685)              (9,642)              (1,912)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                            13,108               17,974                8,625
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                             230,761              200,765              160,598
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                              851,941              900,427              918,497
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                      (13,685)              (9,642)              (1,912)
        

</TABLE>