<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 MARCH 31, 1997, AND 1996 AND ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                  3-MOS                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996                        
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1996                        
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       507,964,694                       0                        
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                        
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                        
<EQUITIES>                                 119,227,509                       0                        
<MORTGAGE>                                   9,671,235                       0                        
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,688,729                       0                        
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             649,957,131                       0                        
<CASH>                                      10,702,339                       0                        
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              56,882                       0                        
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      60,092,338                       0                       
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             742,077,581                       0                        
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            578,983,131                       0                        
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            230,592                       0                        
<POLICY-OTHER>                               1,807,639                       0                        
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,525,664                       0                        
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                       0                        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                        
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                        
<COMMON>                                     4,410,000                       0                        
<OTHER-SE>                                 121,196,430                       0                        
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               742,077,581                       0                        
<PREMIUMS>                                   8,468,025               7,167,502                        
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         12,401,283              11,273,287                        
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             621,782                  10,322                        
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 140,299                 136,492<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                  12,293,545              11,293,367                         
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    804,311                 624,807                        
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         1,947,515               2,444,732<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              6,586,018               4,224,697                        
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,184,954               1,545,891                        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,401,064               2,678,806                        
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                        
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                        
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,401,064               2,678,806                        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.47                    0.28                            
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.47                    0.28                            
<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 THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 REPRESENTS
AMOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO CONFORM TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S
PRESENTATION.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>