<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000745288
<NAME> GOVERNMENT SECURITIES VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> GOVERNMENT SECURITIES VARIABLE ACCOUNT COMPASS 3B
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          192488
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1129
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                             1264
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
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<NET-ASSETS>                                    193935
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
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<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (4108)
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            14704
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            501
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      (260)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         (34346)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.46
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.18
<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>