<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                              7
<CIK>                                                         0000727892
<NAME>                                        IDS Life Insurance Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                                        1000
<CURRENCY>                                                   U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                                                  <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                               JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                 JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      6-MOS
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                        1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                            13384032
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                            8476981
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                              8901326
<EQUITIES>                                                          3221
<MORTGAGE>                                                       3649496
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                     118061
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                  26352894
<CASH>                                                            145230
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                  1332
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                           2481942
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  56238485
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                 25670638
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                    0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                         0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                              71274
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        0
<COMMON>                                                            3000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                            0
<OTHER-SE>                                                       3023796
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    56238485
<PREMIUMS>                                                        110377
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                               997358
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                 (609)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                    391419
<BENEFITS>                                                        792727
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                       190272
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                              122123
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   393424
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      122307
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               271117
<DISCONTINUED>                                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      271117
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                     27248
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                81893
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                 80722
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                    28419
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                0
        

</TABLE>