<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000745288
<NAME> GOVERNMENT SECURITIES VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 002
   <NAME> GOVERNMENT SECURITIES VARIABLE ACCOUNT COMPASS 3
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           184719
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          192488
<RECEIVABLES>                                     1818
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       2
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          217
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                458
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        186166
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1319
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1355
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<NET-ASSETS>                                    193935
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (4108)
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<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                         1022
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            14704
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            124
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (544)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         (34346)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
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<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   4112
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            212000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            18.07
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.98
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.31
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .66
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>