<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 JUNE 30,1997, AND 1996 AND ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                  6-MOS                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996                        
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1996                        
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       528,923,507                       0                        
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                        
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                        
<EQUITIES>                                 133,535,485                       0                        
<MORTGAGE>                                   9,978,416                       0                        
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,667,129                       0                        
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             685,973,510                       0                        
<CASH>                                      10,042,376                       0                        
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             381,713                       0                        
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      61,628,420                       0                       
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             779,742,661                       0                        
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            592,223,290                       0                    
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            145,555                       0                       
<POLICY-OTHER>                               1,875,744                       0                            
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        7,188,793                       0                             
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                       0                        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                        
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                        
<COMMON>                                     4,410,000                       0                        
<OTHER-SE>                                 133,746,422                       0                    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               779,742,661                       0                        
<PREMIUMS>                                  17,282,364              15,152,887                        
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         24,612,774              22,674,608                        
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           1,368,087                 772,627                        
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 325,424                 351,026<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                  23,587,846              21,695,408                         
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  1,560,404               1,388,029                        
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         4,857,044               4,651,108<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             13,583,355              11,216,603                        
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,569,028               4,126,403                        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          9,014,327               7,090,200                        
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                        
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                        
<NET-INCOME>                                 9,014,327               7,090,200                        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.95                    0.75                          
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.95                    0.75                          
<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 SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,1996 REPRESENTS
AMOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO CONFORM TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S
PRESENTATION.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>