<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
annual consolidated financial statements of UNUM Corporation and subsidiaries
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such contained in UNUM
Corporation's SEC Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000795581
<NAME> UNUM Corporation
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         7,896,900
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      31,000
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,303,400
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  250,600
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               9,837,700
<CASH>                                          80,500
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,770,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       1,266,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              15,182,900
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              9,201,400
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          875,400
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                881,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        20,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,717,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                15,182,900
<PREMIUMS>                                   3,841,700
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            661,400
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              21,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 117,300
<BENEFITS>                                   2,886,200
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  (235,100)<F1>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                517,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                   154,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            363,400
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   363,400
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.57
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>This item contains the amounts of deferred and amortized policy acquisition
costs for the period presented.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>