<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ERIE
FAMILY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND STATEMENTS
OF OPERATION DATED SEPTEMBER 30,1997, AND 1996 AND ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996                        
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996                        
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       550,980,864                       0                        
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                        
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                        
<EQUITIES>                                 124,640,218                       0                        
<MORTGAGE>                                  10,043,975                       0                        
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,645,529                       0                        
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             699,299,812                       0                        
<CASH>                                      26,672,611                       0                        
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             227,365                       0                        
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      63,176,281                       0                       
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             811,555,590                       0                        
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            603,676,917                       0                    
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            190,163                       0                       
<POLICY-OTHER>                               1,990,727                       0                            
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        7,744,231                       0                             
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                       0                        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                        
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                        
<COMMON>                                     4,410,000                       0                        
<OTHER-SE>                                 148,176,797                       0                    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               811,555,590                       0                        
<PREMIUMS>                                  25,943,791              22,833,358                        
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         37,031,620              34,297,482                        
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           3,875,794               1,671,027                        
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 515,326                 477,282<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                  35,427,792              31,933,015                         
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  2,253,404               2,072,515                        
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         7,044,126               7,836,616<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             22,641,209              17,437,003                        
<INCOME-TAX>                                 8,100,211               5,804,800                        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         14,540,998              11,632,203                        
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                        
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                        
<NET-INCOME>                                14,540,998              11,632,203                        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.54                    1.23                          
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.54                    1.23                          
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0                       0                        
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0                       0                        
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0                       0                        
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0                       0                        
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0                       0                        
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0                       0                        
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0                        
<FN>
<F1>THE INFORMATION REPORTED FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,1996
REPRESENTS AMOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO CONFORM TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S
PRESENTATION.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>