<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, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>          0000795581
<NAME>         UNUM CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         7,310,900
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      30,700
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,131,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  231,500
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               8,934,100
<CASH>                                          47,900
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,357,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         983,500
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              13,200,300
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              7,813,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        1,004,900
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                635,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        20,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,414,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                13,200,300
<PREMIUMS>                                   3,188,700
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            657,900
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (3,600)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 233,700
<BENEFITS>                                   2,395,300
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  (142,700)<F1>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                536,400
<INCOME-TAX>                                   166,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            370,300
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   370,300
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.59
<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>