[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000808244
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 3
   [NAME] U.S. GOVERNMENT/HIGH QUALITY SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1998
[PERIOD-END]                               JUN-30-1998
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                          234,000
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                         234,000
[RECEIVABLES]                                   14,400
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                 787,711
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                80
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                               1,036,191
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                             0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                        1,237
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                              1,237
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                     1,035,021
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                           99,607
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                          127,737
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                            (64)
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                              0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             3
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                             0
[NET-ASSETS]                                 1,034,954
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                                    0
[INTEREST-INCOME]                                8,531
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                   6,764
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                          1,767
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                             0
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                            0
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                            1,767
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                       90,126
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                       104,745
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                         22,696
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                     59,501
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                              8,675
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                       (582,211)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                         88,295
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                      104,742
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                            3,044
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                 12,923
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                         1,364,547
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            12.66
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.02
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                              0
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             01.06
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        01.23
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              10.39
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.00
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>