<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 DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994 AND ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1994
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       515,529,699             426,381,008                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 116,552,145             126,324,721                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                   8,955,760               7,062,742                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,710,329               1,796,395                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             653,916,816             569,425,117                       0
<CASH>                                       6,284,102              34,847,347                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             212,583                 265,514                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      58,026,428              50,762,292                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             740,650,660             673,794,161                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            562,299,711             500,960,134                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            119,145                 104,951                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               1,703,105                 897,026                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        5,763,271               5,238,897                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                     4,410,000               4,410,000                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 128,220,489             124,495,402                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               740,650,660             673,794,161                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                  31,116,162              28,073,997              24,893,483
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         45,948,969              40,962,812              35,566,249
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           4,986,897               7,483,798               4,411,334
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 668,210                 556,814                 534,489<F1>
<BENEFITS>                                  43,584,948              38,127,349              27,433,262
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                  3,141,350               2,358,127               1,979,765
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         9,351,253              10,188,073               9,513,022<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             26,642,687              26,403,872              26,479,506
<INCOME-TAX>                                 8,976,437               8,522,280               9,649,828
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         17,666,250              17,881,592              16,829,678
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                17,666,250              17,881,592              16,829,678
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.87                    1.89                    1.78<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.87                    1.89                    1.78<F2>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0                       0                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0                       0                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0                       0                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0                       0                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0                       0                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0                       0                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0                       0
<FN>
<F1>THE INFORMATION REPORTED FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1994 REPRESENTS
AMOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO CONFORM TO THE CURRENT YEAR'S
PRESENTATION.
<F2>ALL PER SHARE DATA HAS BEEN RESTATED TO REFLECT THE COMMON STOCK SPLIT APPROVED
BY THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ON MAY 1, 1996
</FN>
        

</TABLE>