<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Financial Statements contained in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1997 for Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000837010
<NAME>                        Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            13,464
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                         231
<MORTGAGE>                                          13
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  14,273
<CASH>                                             565
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  11
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           1,655
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  40,146
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,763
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  1
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      38
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           11,144
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             3
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,831
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    40,146
<PREMIUMS>                                         267
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              1,081
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  36
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      40
<BENEFITS>                                       1,128
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    295
<INCOME-TAX>                                        89
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                205
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       205
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
        

</TABLE>